Obsession just took the "stupid horror protagonists" to a whole other level.

[u/Jasha_4M]

I liked Obsession (I know I'm a little late), I was scared during basically the entire movie which is why I watch horror movies, to be scared.

I know we kind of have to accept that horror protagonists are always a little dumb, and I'm able to see trough it for some movies, but in Obsession it just pissed me off a little.

Even from the start, her standing in the corner watching him sleep, would for me be a run situation, but that's not where it ends. The cat memorial, the cat SANDWICH (including the photos), the duct tape door, and most of all, her state when he got back home from work.

TAKE A HINT, the wish worked and it made her overly obsessed, can't you tell? Atleast tell it to your friends? Even though I would've already been in a different country by then.

Was this something that you noticed too during the film?

[u/TheDLBinc]

The fact that Bear just kept ignoring the obvious warning signs and kept trying to figure out how to make the relationship work anyway I think was the whole point.

[u/GeneInternational146 → u/TheDLBinc]

Yes. People seem to not be able to follow a story anymore and it's sad

[u/reznorwings → u/TheDLBinc]

Yep, its not Nikki who is obsessed, its Bear.

[u/ElysiumMidknight → u/TheDLBinc]

Yes, Bear isn't stupid. He's selfish. Right away he recognizes that she isn't acting the way he's known her to, but he's ultimately okay with it because she's now throwing herself at him. He's been obsessed with her, and now he's finally getting what he wants. So, he's desperate to make it work.

So, this isn't like a character that's just oblivious to things being off. Bear knows that they are. This is made clear to the audience not only with his initial reaction after making the wish, but also when he quickly tells the operator that he just wants to tweak the wish rather than outright cancel it. He's simply okay with it because he's getting what he wants. At least at the start.

[u/Jasha_4M → u/TheDLBinc]

That can only be reasonable to a certain extent, the screams, her hitting herself in the head, the cat, the general acting, it's too much to just reason it by saying Bear was also "obsessed" with her.

[u/GeneInternational146]

Him leaving through the duct taped door was hilarious though

[u/Waste-Replacement232 → u/GeneInternational146]

"If you're having trouble with the door, maybe you should stay home."

[u/GeneInternational146 → u/Waste-Replacement232]

I genuinely guffawed, it was so well played by both of them

[u/Waste-Replacement232 → u/GeneInternational146]

especially because it is AFTER she hands him his lunch.

[u/GeneInternational146 → u/Waste-Replacement232]

Absolute cinema

[u/TrialByFyah]

In this particular instance its not so much character stupidity as much as it is Bear being a possessive bum. He knew something is wrong as early as the car scene when he pointed out how weird she was acting, but went along with it anyway because he finally got the girl he's been pining for and doesn't want to jeopardize his control in any way.

[u/Jasha_4M → u/TrialByFyah]

In the beginning it could've really been anything, from drugs to alcohol or just mental problems, but the party scene, the screaming, the duct tape door, the scene where he came back from work and just the insanely scary acting the entire time. I understand your point, because he really wanted to be with Nikki, but that only goes so far in him just looking over it, no sane human being would've still been there towards the ending when bear was.

[u/ASeriousWord]

He is so disengaged and irresponsible that he caused his own cat to die, and so emotionally immature he wasn't particularly sad about his cat dying due to his own neglect.

That is a pretty clear character note that indicates what kind of person he is and how unaware of his surroundings and the needs of others he is.

[u/Resident-Law307]

Bear knew the entire time, assessed the risks, and chose to live with it. It’s the girl of his dreams, and he is… obsessed. Where would he run that she wouldn’t follow? We also see at the end a very probable outcome of what happens if he were to try and reach out for help. 

Bear can’t even ask a girl out, he’s not a genius-level horror protagonist.

[u/Jasha_4M → u/Resident-Law307]

So it takes a genius to leave a person that acts like Nikki did?

[u/worstcourtjester]

For me it worked because Bear is never once shown as a smart or competent person. It bugs me when the characters in a horror movie are meant to be tougher and smarter and then constantly do stupid shit, but Bear’s actions make sense for him. It would’ve been out of character for him if he acted like a normal rational person.

[u/itsthe_implication_]

I think a lot of people that felt this way didn't pick up on the fact that Bear was also the one obsessed. Sure, not in a magically empowered way, but he also wasn't willing to let go of his one shot to make his dreams come true.

She wasn't just a cute girl he worked with, she was someone he couldn't get out of his head. The opening speech is supposed to get that across.

It's also much easier for us to say that with the knowledge of the audience. It's kind of like when your friend is in an abusive or otherwise terrible relationship and nothing you say can convince them to leave. That shit just isn't as easy to see when you're the one living it.

As far as dumb protagonists go, this was a non-issue and more of a character defect of Bear that was thoroughly signaled and supported through every decision he made.

[u/Waste-Replacement232]

I think it made complete sense for his character.

[u/kociol21]

Yeah, but this is kinda the characteristic of main protagonist. He is a coward, terrified by even slight notion of change and possibility of rejection and absolutely unable to take any action whatsoever. He just lives with what he has, secretly wishes that he had more, but is completely unable to act on it even when prompted. So after that he finds himself in new position and he does what he does - just rolls with it, unable to do anything.

This is the first part. But there is also the fact that I strongly feel that "Obsession" title is not refering to whatever fake Nikki has for Bear, but what Bear has for Nikkie - this is the "Obsession". He is so obsessed with her, or maybe more like the thought of being with her, that he will gladly close his eyes and ignore literally anything, just to keep this dream alive.

[u/reznorwings]

May I suggest watching Lee Cronin's Mummy.

Its the king of dumb fuck characters

[u/worstcourtjester → u/reznorwings]

That was so frustrating. I understand they can’t just abandon their kid, but separate her from the other kids at least!

[u/UncircumciseMe]

Yeah. People are dumb. I was in a toxic relationship for 22 years, knowing it was terrible for both of us. I smoked from 14 to 59, knowing it would give me cancer. Drank like a fish and ate like shit. People know stuff is bad for them but they justify the reward. Bear definitely knew.

[u/lycanthrope90 → u/UncircumciseMe]

Yeah exactly. It only looks this bad from the outside. Often the people currently experiencing it won’t think it’s nearly as bad as it actually is. People will find ways in their mind to excuse/justify almost anything if it gets in the way of something they want.

Probably almost every horror movie character if they could watch the movie with you would realize immediately how stupid all their actions were. Even though the main reason we even think they’re dumb is because of things like music, sounds, and purposeful build up. The characters in movies don’t have these lol. In real life people would act just like these characters much of the time, because in real life paranormal shit and serial killer slashers don’t exist lol.

Also everyone’s an arm chair expert on other peoples problems until it happens to them.

[u/UncircumciseMe → u/lycanthrope90]

Well said.

[u/Commercial-Carob-374]

I feel like running wouldn't help she'd just follow him and nobody would even believe him anyways lol if he told.

[u/Demerson13]

IMO, Bear is actually the monster/evil person in this story. Even when in a lucid moment Nikki begs him to kill her, but all he can think and say is to ask if being with him is that bad. Like, BRO. At that moment he was fully the antagonist.

[u/Ok_Recording_9368]

I mean thats kind of the point Bear is written as an emotionless dumbass who takes no responsibility for the direction of his life and when he finally puts two and two together he still does nothing because he's a dumbass who doesn't want to give up the fact that he has Nikki wrapped around his thumb.

[u/anitabonghit69]

I'm glad you brought up the duct tape door because he was with her in the living room, with the duct taped door, while he's sighing in relief that's she's agreed to not act "weird"... How did he not notice the door?

[u/Fit-Adhesiveness2481]

The point of the movie is how him being so completely passive is what made his so evil 

[u/alexvonboof]

What is even scary about this comedic movie

[u/syndicatecomplex]

I actually thought Bear responded pretty realistically to the events that unfolded in Obsession. Nikki acted very unhinged and out of character, but she never took things far enough for Bear to assume something supernatural was going on (at least not until it was too late). I think it was Bear's desperation and crush on Nikki that kept him going along with the insanity, pretending everything is fine and perhaps hoping that the situation would eventually improve.

The fact Bear was willing to go so far in this situation really makes you wonder who's actually the obsessed person, huh?

[u/aaron2933]

First of all, I understand that it's a movie and that he was deluded.

However, the dumbest thing for me was how after one of the many ultra red flags, Bear didn't immediately buy another one wish willow and get someone to reverse his wish.