Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Movie Meter: 8/10
Release: 2026
Genre: Horror
Available: Theatres
Obsession is built around one of the oldest cautionary tales in storytelling: be careful what you wish for. The film follows a man who makes a seemingly simple wish, that his crush will “love him more than anyone in the world.” What follows is a disturbing descent into obsession, control, and the consequences of getting exactly what you asked for.
What impressed me most about Obsession is how it tackles themes that horror movies rarely explore this effectively. Yes, the movie is about obsession, but it’s also a sharp examination of codependency, manipulation, greed, and toxicity in relationships. I’ve never seen a film approach these subjects quite like this. Rather than relying on demons, zombies, vampires, or other traditional horror tropes, Obsession turns the wisher himself into the true monster. The horror comes from human desire taken to its absolute extreme, and that makes the movie feel far more unsettling than many supernatural horror films.
The acting is incredible across the board, but Inde Navarrette absolutely carries the film as Niki. She brings so much emotion, unpredictability, and authenticity to the role that even when the story gets darker and more uncomfortable, you’re completely invested in what happens to her. Her performance is the backbone of the movie and elevates every scene she’s in.
The plot gets a little iffy at times, especially in the latter portions of the film, and there are moments where the story doesn’t fully stick the landing. Still, those issues are easy to overlook when you consider the bigger picture. This is the feature directorial debut of a 26-year-old filmmaker whose background is primarily in social media comedy. The fact that someone with no previous feature film directing experience was able to create a horror film this ambitious, unique, and effective is genuinely impressive.
More than anything, Obsession feels like a positive sign for movies in general. It proves that fresh voices can still bring original ideas to the genre and create horror that isn’t just about monsters lurking in the dark. Instead, it explores the darkness that comes from greed, possessiveness, and obsession; and it does so in a way that feels genuinely original.
Obsession isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the most interesting horror films I’ve seen in a long time, and it’s an extremely impressive debut from a young director who clearly has a bright future ahead of him.
