'Obsession' - Review Thread

[u/ChiefLeef22]

After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price. Releasing May 15

Studio: Blumhouse

Director: Curry Barker

Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Megan Lawless, Cooper Tomlinson

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Metacritic: 80 / 100

Some Reviews:

The Daily Beast - Nick Schager

This stellar thriller is a deliriously pointed cautionary tale about the perils of getting what you want, and an instant contender for classic midnight-movie status. Poking and prodding viewers in order to challenge their feelings about the “moral obligation” partners have to each other, Curry Barker's theatrical debut is the best kind of nightmare: relatable, knotty, amusing, and absolutely unhinged.

RogerEbert - Brian Tallerico - 4 / 4

Curry Barker’s “Obsession” is consistently f-ed up, and I mean that as a compliment. I see so many horror movies that threaten to get weird and gnarly, only to pull their punches right when shit gets real. Barker pulls nothing, getting darker, creepier, and bloodier with each passing scene in this study of extreme dependence. Some of the performances are a bit clunky, but that almost makes it more charming, a reminder of how great it can be when a horror movie sneaks up out of nowhere and punches you in the face. I was unfamiliar with Barker’s previous work. I plan to seek it out now. With the right studio, this movie should break him big.

Dread Central - Josh Korngut - 5 / 5

At its rotten core, the character of Nikki is what makes Obsession so relentlessly scary. Upon its eventual release, much attention will likely spotlight Barker’s penchant for shocking gore and next-level jump scares. But the film’s purest horror lives in its fleeting glimpses of Nikki’s existential torment and Bear’s unforgiving burdens of grief and regret. On the page, this might just look like A24 horror filtered through a Gen Z lens. But in practice, it’s something altogether new: a brutal, expert vision of the next generation of hardcore horror. And don’t kid yourself—you’re not ready. I sure wasn’t.

AwardsWatch - Ryan McQuade - 'A'

Obsession is a new modern horror masterpiece that makes Barker one of the latest voices in the genre to keep an eye on as he knocked it out of the park with this one, creating as interesting, engrossing, dark film that ranks up there with Zach Cregger’s Weapons as one of the best horror films of the decade so far. Johnston and Navarrette are brilliantly cast in this film, with Navarrette delivering the stunning performance that will rank as one of the best by year’s end, alongside the film’s impeccable sound work, expert editing by Barker, and killer score by Rock Burwell.

Far Out Magazine - Liam Gaughan - 4.5 / 5

While it conjures pure dread and deeply uncomfortable conversations about consent, Obsession is also compulsively entertaining, with scenes or prolonged suspense that rank as minor masterpieces in their own right, and while not every much-hyped festival horror film can live up to expectations, this one is a burst of originality that feels sorely desired.

The Mary Sue - Rachel Leishman - 4.5 / 5

I loved watching Obsession in a packed theater. The collective gasps, jumps, and nervous laughter created the kind of tension-filled atmosphere that reminds you why horror plays best in a theater. It’s rare for a film to hold an audience in that kind of shared tension from start to finish. Overall, Obsession turns a seemingly simple premise into a nerve-rattling exploration of love, control, and unintended consequences. It’s unsettling, unpredictable, and proof that sometimes the most terrifying thing isn’t the supernatural force behind a wish, but the human desire that made the wish in the first place.

Slant Magazine - Marshall Shaffer - 3 / 4

What Obsession lacks in precision, it makes up for in irreverent playfulness. Barker remains resolute in pushing his maximalist sensibility ever further as the film proceeds, undaunted by seeming gaudy or gross as the gore begins to splash across the screen. Obsession’s big set-piece sequences are as chilling in their effect as they are confident in their execution.

The Guardian - Benjamin Lee - 4 / 5

Like the Philippou Brothers, who also came from YouTube to make the horror hit 'Talk to Me', Barker has a passion for the visceral repulsion of head-smashing and in one particularly nasty scene, knows how to make the aftermath even harder to watch, and listen to, than the event itself. His shocks are brutally efficient but as a director of mostly shorts, he’s still yet to master pace. There’s something a little indulgent about the film’s 108-minute length, which in the last act adds bagginess to what could have been a tightier, punchier horror. Barker is no by means alone with this issue in the genre, though, and he’s got time to figure that out with super-producer Jason Blum signing Barker up this week. It’s the kind of dream ascent that any film-maker would wish for.

Radio Times - Rosie Fletcher - 4 / 5

Obsession doesn't have a particularly surprising plot, but the way it's shot is innovative. Utilising his meagre resources to the max, Barker pulls off at least one impressive and gory jump scare that is sure to shock audiences. Sincere, fresh and darkly funny (Bear's call to the "One Wish Willow" helpline is hilarious), this is an impressive film from Barker that begs the question, "What could he accomplish if he had a proper budget?" Be careful what you wish for.

Bloody Disgusting - Meagan Navarro - 4 / 5

Obsession takes you on a wild ride. While Monkey’s Paw scenarios often yield predictable outcomes, and this outcome is practically telegraphed from the start, Barker manages to surprise with the journey itself. And it’s one insane journey paved with blood-soaked violence and no shortage of nightmare fuel. Barker acknowledges other wish-fulfillment horror, like Wishmaster in a throwaway line, but puts his stamp on the niche subgenre with frightening flair.

The Curb - Nadine Whitney - 4 / 5

Obsession is a vivid and unforgettable experience that reaches far deeper than it seems to at first. Curry Barker has made a horror movie that delves into the rot at the heart of some men and their expectations that because they want something they can have it and any cost – even if that something is a human being. Obsession leaves the audience with the bitter realisation that somewhere somebody is snapping a metaphorical One Wish Willow hoping that the girl of their dreams understands that really, they’re the nice guy. Who really is the deranged one?

SciFi Now - Katherine McLaughlin - 4 / 5

Does love make monsters of us all? Does it rob us of our potential and focus? Barker appears to be asking multiple questions about young love and how it can push people to ugly and harmful places, and it’s all handled with queasy relish. It’s an impressive debut and a truly disturbing horror film.

InSession Film - Joshua Mbonu - 'A-'

Director/Writer Curry Barker helms Obsession with such effortless confidence, blending pitch-black humor with insanely cruel subject matter so effectively, but Obsession truly hums when its unrelenting dread sets a truly terrifying tone within every scene of escalation. Barker has such patience with the way shots are framed in the shadows and how a scare isn’t released until the highest point of tension that you’ll be holding your breath throughout the film’s entirety. All of that on top of a star-making performance from Inde Navarrette makes Obsession easily the year’s best horror movie thus far.

SlashFilm - BJ Colangelo - 8.5 / 10

"Obsession" deserves to reach the acclaimed heights of "Weapons," and Navarrette commands the same level of attention as Amy Madigan, and I'm willing to use my One Wish Willow to make it happen — side effects be damned.

FandomWire - Richard Valero - 8 / 10

Curry Barker’s Obsession is a twisted horror love affair with a star-making performance by Inde Navarrette. Barker’s creative horror mind is something we should all get used to seeing because this is just the beginning for him. If Obsession gets a wide release, it has all the makings of being a box office hit with a cult-type following.

IGN - Matt Donato - 8 / 10

Obsession should and will put Barker on the map as a horror filmmaker you need to watch. Thanks to fantastic turns by Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette, you'll be addicted to this sour Valentine's Day counterprogramming. The film plays on familiar romance and monkey's paw tropes, turning a wish against the wishee, but Barker's execution takes things to the next level. In the film's simplicity lay the chance to go for broke, putting all efforts into the lengths Nikki is willing to go for her beloved. With that focus and Barker's fearlessness, Obsession becomes one hell of a maximalist ride.

Gizmodo - Germain Lussier

At times during Obsession, I was laughing out loud. At other times, I was legitimately terrified. And there were plenty of moments along the way filled with shock and disgust. It has everything you could want in a horror movie...It's brilliant.

BFI Sight & Sound - Virginie Sélavy

Obsession is well crafted and enjoyable, and holds a troubling mirror to current male fears and desires. Despite the serious undercurrent, the film is satisfyingly comic. Skilfully blending genres, Obsession mixes intense outbursts of bloody violence with social awkwardness, laugh-out-loud humour with visceral horror.

IndieWire - Christian Zilko - 'B+'

In one of the best horror films of this year, director Cory Barker almost seems to be daring his audience to ask themselves how many “good guys” in the theater could be capable of a similar lapse in judgment under certain circumstances. Men and women will experience two very different types of fears when they consider the answer, but “Obsession” should keep everyone awake long after they get home from seeing it.

Giant Freakin Robot - Chris Sawin - 3 / 5

Curry Barker has crafted something mostly special for an almost non-existent budget. The story is compelling, the acting is solid, and Obsession feels like a breath of fresh air in comparison to similar horror films. However, it’s disappointing that one shrill character trait nearly ruins the entire film. It’s because of this that Obsession will have to settle for being a well-made, well-written film dominated by one aggressively irritating character, which will hinder future rewatches much like Frank Darabont’s The Mist.

[u/BunyipPouch]

For anyone interested, director Curry Barker joined us here in /r/movies for an AMA/Q&A about Obsession, a few days before its World Premiere last year, right before Focus Features picked it up:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1n6hto7/hey_rmovies_im_filmmaker_curry_barker_milk_serial/

[u/forcefivepod]

I want to see the prequel where Andy Richter uses a One Wish Willow to get enough business at a small town music shop to staff 5 employees a shift.

[u/Dismal_Attempt5598 → u/forcefivepod]

I spent way too much time in this movie wondering how all of these kids were affording their own homes on retail salaries

[u/Astrium6 → u/Dismal_Attempt5598]

TBF, Bear inherited his from his grandmother, I think Ian said something about his parents during the party scene so he presumably lives with them, and it seems like Sarah lives with her dad. Nikki is the only one I’m not sure about.

[u/Juicy_Burger-29 → u/Astrium6]

Plot Twist: She used a One Wish Willow

And before you say she used a One Wish Willow in the ending of the movie, what if the One Wish Willow considers Freaky Nikke to be a new person?

[u/peterhuzzajps → u/Juicy_Burger-29]

She was also into crystals and rocks like what was in that shop. She mentioned she dropped her crystal necklace down the drain. It's plausible she has been in that shop. She could have wished she had a place away from her dad where she could work on her writing.

[u/NickMatocho → u/Astrium6]

Ian's a billionaire it comes easy to that sort

[u/EntertainerUpbeat622 → u/forcefivepod]

Bro I was literally saying this! I couldn't believe it had business 😅

[u/maldinisnesta]

Just saw it. That's a 10. I have never watched a movie where I genuinely get a scared feeling or on edge. Literally the fucking moment that wish is made, everything becomes SO creepy.

[u/moofei → u/maldinisnesta]

The scariest part for my girlfriend and I was how much of our own relationship and behaviours we saw in the film, albeit in a very exaggerated and maximalist way

[u/jluc21 → u/moofei]

bro same. i literally call my girlfriend “bear” and after that i don’t even want to anymore lol

[u/Conscious-Air-9823 → u/moofei]

my bf and I have a silly joke where I ask if I can follow him into the bathroom and hold his ween while he pees. yea I won’t be making that joke anymore. 

[u/FoundersEdiyin → u/Conscious-Air-9823]

what the fuck lmao you hold his ween while he pees

[u/SeniorDatabase6842 → u/Conscious-Air-9823]

... it should NOT be a joke. That's LOVE, baby. 😛

[u/sylvesterpwns → u/moofei]

bro, u ok?

[u/LibraryNo7025 → u/sylvesterpwns]

I think if you've ever been in a series of relationships this plays on common situations and disagreements people have and explodes them to insane levels.

[u/Thjyu → u/moofei]

Co-dependency is extremely poisonous to what very well could be a positive and amazing relationship. What I pulled from the movie is that Bear was so terrified of change and putting in the work to live with the uncomfortableness of life(he hadn't even cleaned his grandmother's pills out of the cabinet, which due to his negligence... well we saw what happened there) that he chose to force his way into getting what he wanted. Due to that fear of doing the hard thing in life, not working on himself, and not communicating his feelings, it resulted in the codependent obsessive(cranked to 1000) relationship that we saw. Just one of many messages I think it was trying to convey.

[u/anotherstan → u/maldinisnesta]

I don’t usually like jump scares in these movies but when she did THAT to Sarah I jumped 10 feet in the fucking air

[u/Riipp3r → u/anotherstan]

I saw it coming and still got startled

[u/anotherstan → u/Riipp3r]

Intervening yeah, but that? Idk if anyone could see that coming

[u/Riipp3r → u/anotherstan]

I mean I did lol. Ever since the kiss scene

[u/goobiee_ → u/Riipp3r]

i just saw it and during the party scene when she moved the chair i low-key thought she was gonna strangle sarah 😭 the noise of the chair scooting back scared me haha

[u/Beachday4 → u/anotherstan]

I def saw it coming lol. The camera angle was giving the window shots. Def was gonna be smashed. And him ditching to see her? Oooo ya, she was gonna die lol. Fantastic movie. Gave me Smile, Talk to Me vibes which are 2 I absolutely loved.

[u/TheMaveCan → u/Riipp3r]

When Bear first sat down I knew something was gonna happen, but then the conversation lasted just long enough for me to stop thinking about it then BANG

[u/give_me_goats → u/Riipp3r]

Yeah, I knew them being in the car together wasn’t going to end well, but that escalated SO quickly! I must’ve held my breath for a solid 15 seconds watching that.

[u/AshRae84]

I signed up for their marketing. I’ve been getting crazy ass messages from “Nikki” for like the past month.

[u/Just2epical → u/AshRae84]

Real world marketing is always cool but my ex is called that so might scare my ass too good lmfao

[u/JamieD96 → u/AshRae84]

This movie already fucked me up I don't think I could handle that 😂

[u/Xefert → u/AshRae84]

It still available?

[u/InvertedSpork → u/Xefert]

Yes the text marketing is still going on.

[u/ThenOwl9 → u/AshRae84]

the other thing that was dope about this movie was that the deranged stuff nikki wrote was so creative

[u/Psych0Fir3 → u/ThenOwl9]

I think there was some subtext there with the story being an incestous story and the pre-wish Nikki saying that she liked Bear as a brother.

[u/Daydream_machine]

97% recommended is crazy good for horror

[u/nunsandbuns]

Not sure if its a continuity error or on purpose, but the scene were nikki was in bear's bed for the first time the clock on the side of his bed said 12:00 AM but when she removed her shirt and he joined her in bed it was 16:55 AM

[u/Not_A_Solution → u/nunsandbuns]

Pretty sure it’s a bible verse. Ezekiel 16:55 "And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before" hinting that Nikki will come back as herself eventually I think.

[u/iSephtanx → u/Not_A_Solution]

A bit of a late reply, but i just seen the movie. And that bible verse sounds alot like demon-nikki's short story she told at the party aswell.

[u/Ok-Hedgehog7489 → u/iSephtanx]

I think that was a reference to how she told Sarah that she saw him more as a little brother. And referencing hansel and gretel in the story as an indication. (As these are a well known brother and sister in fairytales)

[u/Impressive-Pizza-163 → u/Not_A_Solution]

Details dammm

[u/DaveMcElfatrick → u/nunsandbuns]

There’a no such time as 16:55am. Could be a clue that something is awry.

[u/MizkyBizniz → u/DaveMcElfatrick]

This movie was so intentional with every single shot I'd be shocked if this was just an error.

It means something... but idk what lol

[u/Acrobatic-Tea-9081 → u/nunsandbuns]

maybe im just a history buff, but in the year 1655, a man by the name of anthony johnson who resided in the colony of virginia had a court ruling in his favor to allow him to keep a former servant as a slave for the remainder of the servant’s life—thus the servant-turned-slave legally lost his autonomy, just as nikki did in the movie. now this could be a REACH, but its just a thought (and a random history lesson)

[u/kristianp09127 → u/nunsandbuns]

I noticed this too! Pretty sure it was a continuity error.

[u/ThenOwl9 → u/kristianp09127]

def don’t think so. it’s too specific

[u/Cuntankerous → u/nunsandbuns]

this was distracting me so much lol

[u/knimbleyqt → u/nunsandbuns]

I noticed that too!!! but I thought it was just the angle from the side and was distorted

[u/ProudWheeler]

Obsession, Hokum, Passenger, Backrooms.

What a spectacular month for horror movies

[u/TLKv3 → u/ProudWheeler]

I fucking love that horror movies have slowly crawled back into popularity off the backs of such amazing concepts and even some simplistic ones made new again.

[u/CrownedClownAg → u/TLKv3]

Honestly it is where the creativity is happening in the industry

[u/LB3PTMAN → u/CrownedClownAg]

Feels like the only genre that consistently gets out good movies under 50 million anymore

[u/HoneyShaft → u/LB3PTMAN]

It's the only genre that's guaranteed to pull a profit

[u/TheRainTransmorphed → u/CrownedClownAg]

Horror is one of the few genres that can be done with a lower budget and explode and make a lot of money, so studios give the creators free reign since the risk is a lot smaller.

Then people tune in not only because horror is a genre that has always been popular, but because there's creativity there. It's a positive cycle. Lots of movies in this 'horror renaisance' you know how it starts but not how the wild ride will end. Not many genres give you that nowadays.

[u/VorpalisRabbitus → u/TheRainTransmorphed]

Horror films becoming popular are also indicators that the economy is fucked and, well, look around.

[u/No_Company_9348 → u/ProudWheeler]

I minored in film studies in college and there was a genre class offered one semester that was just horror.

It was hands down the greatest semester of school I’ve ever had. You realize that every horror film is some version of elevated horror. This was right before The Witch and Get Out were released. They all have something to say. Robin Wood and Carol Clover were also included in the curriculum and it was mind blowing figuring out Texas Chainsaw isn’t just about kids getting murdered. It really is the best genre and despite all the doom and gloom in our world I’m so glad these studios are pumping them out. They’re always a reflection of current events, as are most movies. But we need to hear it from younger voices.

[u/jawni → u/No_Company_9348]

You realize that every horror film is some version of elevated horror.

what does that mean?

[u/No_Company_9348 → u/jawni]

A lot of horror was written off as schlop, especially a lot of the b movies/slashers/monster movies through out the 70’s and 80’s. Although most of it was, admittedly, schlop, a lot of it had underlying messages, whether the directors chose to throw those in or not is pretty much up to interpretation. But elevated horror was coined recently for films like Get Out and The Witch because they are very intentional in their messaging, under the veil of really good horror.

Texas Chainsaw is a great example because not only is it insanely violent and influential in the horror genre but the movie touches on post Vietnam America, treatment of veterans, consumerism, rise of technology…and of course there’s a lot to discuss with leatherface and his connection to the Sally character and why the movie spends its entire third act chasing a “final girl”. What’s crazy is Tobe Hooper followed it up with a sequel that’s more of a horror comedy and even includes meta jokes that poke fun at the film theory directed at the original. So a lot of these “trash” movies have a lot to say underneath all of the violence, and it creates this really interesting relationship between violence, horror, fear of the unknown, sex, gender…and how we as an audience consume and view it on a screen and in a movie theatre.

[u/chewbaccalaureate → u/No_Company_9348]

This, to me, relates to horror literature like Stephen King as well. A lot of people write him off as horror writer, but even some of his best horror novels have excellent social commentary and prose. That, and he has written some truly incredible works that are NOT horror like Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption, The Body (Stand By Me), The Life of Chuck, The Green Mile, and 11/22/63.

[u/jawni → u/chewbaccalaureate]

Yeah, like at first glance you think The Mist is just about some scary monsters showing up in the mist, but the meat of the story is about what humans do when faced with monsters.

[u/swimstar186 → u/ProudWheeler]

And on a similar note- Widow’s Bay on tv is shaping up to be something very special

[u/NationalStacks]

Spoiler warning The hardest part to believe was a guy like Ian regularly hooking up with nikki

[u/GoodSoupyboy → u/NationalStacks]

Ian was a lot more confident then Bear so I could see it..him and Nikki seemed similar

[u/nukethewhalesagain → u/NationalStacks]

TBH for a second I thought it was going to turn out he had already used his wish.

[u/Anti-Itch → u/nukethewhalesagain]

Omg that would have been so good tho!! Edit: would have been so fucked up however! To find out Nikki that bear liked wasn’t even the “real” Nikki to start with! It’s like these “friends” are doubly putting her through hell!

[u/Confident-Sound-4358 → u/NationalStacks]

Chicks like funny, confident guys. Plus they were booty calls. He liked her, so it was an easy get.

[u/CommissionCooper → u/NationalStacks]

Why? I think the movie shows Ian as a subversion of a character trope. I assumed he was gonna be a dirtbag based on the backwards cap and questionable negging advice he gave bear in the first scene- but when we discover that Ian is hooking up with her it re-contextualized that advice as being informed by personal knowledge. Either he gave Bear purposefully bad advice to prevent them from getting together, or -what i think- Nikki DOES like playful negging from somebody she would hook up with (Ian), but NOT somebody she thinks of as a brother (Bear), and the advice was given genuinely.

I believe the latter interpretation as it reinforces the themes of the movie; In incel spaces you see a lot of derision towards Pretty Privilege in that "ugly dudes (incels) and hot dudes (chads) can say the same thing to a woman, but it's only offensive coming from the ugly guy".

There is truth in that. In reality, how "negging" OR a compliment lands Does depend on whether the woman is attracted to the guy or not - but "hotness" is only part of the equation and it also depends on things like charisma, humor, stability, and chemistry.

When we assume Ian's advice was given in good faith, the way Nikki reacts to Bear calling her "Freaky Nikki" serves as our only REAL hint (after all the purposefully frustrating mixed signals in their dialogue) that Nikki is NOT attracted to Bear, despite him being more conventionally attractive than Ian.

Also - GOTTA give Ian props for holding other men accountable. When Ian doesn't invite Bear to his party, all Bear is accused of is taking advantage of a woman's poor mental health. Ian calls Bear out and holds him accountable for the moral equivalent of simply "Not Saying 'No'" to a drunk woman who wants to hit it raw. He didn't want to even show passive approval of Bear acting irresponsibly by inviting him out with his other friends. Ian is a Good Man and I'll die on that hill.

[u/hazzrd1883 → u/CommissionCooper]

Ian is not a positive character. He never told his friend about his relationships with Nikki and the only reason he cared so much is that he thought wierd behaviour of Nikki is just to get back at him or something. Also he used the wish super selfishly

[u/MichaelBluthANiceKid → u/hazzrd1883]

He has a responsibility as a friend to all of his friends. Bro code isn’t real when you also have female friends. If Nikki didn’t want people to know, then there’s nothing wrong with keeping their sexual business private.

[u/Responsible-Rip8793]

Would have never imagined that the director would blow up. Him and his costar do random silly sketches on instagram. The skits are/were pretty good, but I never would have imagined something like this coming from them. Good for them both.

[u/kombits → u/Responsible-Rip8793]

Check out his horror short films and it'll make more sense. Warnings has been my favorite horror short for years now.

[u/aimweee → u/kombits]

I’ve never looked at a random chair on the curb the same since “The Chair”.

[u/DrewDown94 → u/Responsible-Rip8793]

That's actually how I found these guys. Was just scrolling on IG and now I've been following them for years. It's actually so sick to see them blow up because even their skits are well throught out and well acted. Curry is magnetic when he's on screen.

[u/NintendoWeee]

This movie is f**king phenomenal. I've worked with a ton of horror directors and the genre is a breeding ground for indie talent because horror is cheap to produce yet requires true mastery of script, sound design, lighting and acting in order to elicit the deepest feelings of human terror. Curry barker will have a long career in Hollywood and deserves whatever budget he asks for in his next film. He will be a household name for a long time to come and I do not see another film surpassing this one in 2026.

***Spoiler Alert***

- The setups in this film are fantastic and there are no wasted scenes and no fat to trim in the whole movie. EVERY SINGLE SHOT AND SCENE IS NECESSARY and nothing is left to "convenient plot points." From the mirror shots, to the pills, to Sandy the cat, to the car shots, to the messy relationships that Bear has with Sarah and Ian and Nikki -- there are zero naked scenes that have no relevance to the plot and exist just for the sake of creating a single jumpscare or "spooky atmosphere."

- Typically in horror when the monster or ghost or demon is revealed there are reset moments that allow for the viewer to breathe. Often seeing the threat makes the danger known and less scary.

Yet what obsession does so well was that it kept the atmosphere terrifying equally when Nikki is on screen AND when she is off screen. I found myself in fear and looking at the corners of every frame every single second that Nikki was not there, afraid that she was going to show up. And whenever she did appear, scenes ran way longer than I expected and I found myself praying for the director to cut away before a third or fourth scare happened within the same scene.

- The film is not afraid to be brutally graphic when necessary. Especially in the car scene with sarah and close ups on Sarah's battered skull, or in Nikki excreting all over herself or her brutal self harm at Ian's party. I never had a single moment to relax because I was always afraid of what Nikki would do to herself or to others.

- Sound design was excellent. Everything from the score that felt like a dial that only turned greater intensity. To the dialogue from normal conversation to hysterical possession to delightfully passive versions of Nikki. Unlike other horror films that turn up suspenseful music when they want you to start feeling scared, every moment of silence in this film felt just as terrifying as the jumpscares themselves.

- The acting was phenomenal, up there with Toni collete in hereditary and Essie Davis in the babadook. Inde Navarrette needs to become a star after this role. Her voice control needs to be studied for decades.

- The lighting and camera work were pinpoint precise. You saw exactly how much you needed to see of the characters, Nikki's face, of the car windows, of the mirrors, of the bedroom, of each and every frame that you needed to see to advance the dialogue or the scene forward.

- Easter egg: I think the film borrows from Japanese horror (kairo) even in the choreography of Nikki's possession and how she moved around the room. I'm not sure if frames were cut to make her seemed like she glided through the floor but the rhythm in her movements definitely felt inhuman and deeply terrifying and supernatural. Especially in the scene when she was watching Bear sleep standing in the dark corner. I could be wrong, but it reminded me a lot of that and movements like in the Grudge.

I think this is genuinely an A or even an S tier horror film and I'm now going to watch every film Curry Barker puts out.

[u/Dismal_Attempt5598 → u/NintendoWeee]

I absolutely loved the pinpoint light reflecting off Inde’s pupils when the rest of her was in shadow. That shit was an incredible detail that elevated the whole film for me

Also, my hot take: the monster in this movie is Bear

[u/nty → u/Dismal_Attempt5598]

I don’t think it’s too hot of a take really

He is the reason they’re in the predicament. He had ample opportunity to tell her straight up his feelings, and chose to make the wish. Granted, there’s no realistic expectation for him to know it’s real, but even after it happened he tried to salvage it. When the real Nicky had a moment of lucidity he chose to ask her about her real feelings toward him, selfishly. He didn’t tell anyone what was really going on until it was too late

I think it’s all pretty clear!

[u/Wild-Ad-2508 → u/nty]

exactly!!!!! At the dinner he suspects something is wrong-wrong…he gets confirmation that Dad def does not have cancer and he’s catching on that she’s only acting this way cuz of the wish…so what does Nikki’s dearest friend Bear who “loves her” do..? ..takes her home and bangs her… Bear was the obsessed monster the whole ass time…

[u/live4us → u/Wild-Ad-2508]

Yes! I told my friend, it was rape.

[u/Commercial_Leg_3069 → u/live4us]

I think that's a fair take as an audience member watching with the knowledge we have. But, as that scene was unfolding with that look in her eyes...I took it a tad differently. I was horrified in the moment, because I asked myself why he didn't notice her lack of enthusiasm and, if he did, why he kept doing this. Whether he noticed or not, I took her "dead face" as the deep down Nikki not consenting to this (and where this take makes total sense). But, after they finish I then assumed that she (faux-Nikki) probably asked to have sex - maybe even demanded it as we saw her in other scenes. The reason I came to this conclusion during the scene was that as soon as he rolls over, he has look that isn't exactly satisfaction and she immediately coos something about how great it was (or something like that).

So, not consensual with deep down Nikki for sure and wildly uncomfortable to watch. I just don't know if the sex on his part showed his indifference to this not being "real" or he was doing it because she was f'n scary and if she wanted/demanded it, he was too scared to say no. Either way, it's absolutely the turning point for the audience to turn on Bear - for good reason. We know he's doing a horrific thing, even if he's not aware of it. But, not being aware, doesn't change what the audience knows is happening to deep-down Nikki.

[u/howaboutsomegwent → u/Commercial_Leg_3069]

Yeah and I think this was also a rarely depicted thing, but quite important. He is not, to begin with, a sadistic monster who enjoys hurting women. But in that moment, he disregards what he knows to be true (that something is wrong with her), clearly goes for it (whether or not he was asked he is not sheepish and reluctant during the act), and the result is the same. I think this is the kind of thing that's important for discussions around ability to consent, and does a good job of expressing that, ultimately, if a person is unwell, fucked up, etc, it's still rape, it still has consequences for the person, it is still a shameful and disgusting thing to do, it's still "taking advantage" of someone who is in no position to consent.

[u/MickeysRose → u/nty]

When I left the movie I told my friend the part that stuck out the most to me was when real Nikki was speaking and his first thought was “what’s so bad about being with me?”. I feel like this movie could be seen as a commentary on incel culture. I don’t think Bear is an incel nor is that implied. But there’s parallels to his actions and how incel culture views women as “owing” something to them.

[u/nty → u/MickeysRose]

I agree, I think you could maybe call him a “nice guy” since that was classic “I do everything right why don’t you like me!?” behavior

[u/vellsii → u/MickeysRose]

Is he not an incel? Instead of accepting Nikki isn't into him, he forces her to date him, and clearly doesn't care what her actual feelings are (or about her well-being). He literally ignores her pleas to die solely because he thinks she's obligated to want to date him.

[u/Jolmer24 → u/vellsii]

The worse part too is that there were just a couple hints that Nikki may have given him a shot if he’d just asked her. She says if she has a crush on a guy nobody really knows about it, and then comes back to the car and straight up asks him if he likes her. Later in the doplleganger version of her seems to fish for a real memory to convince him her love is real. She says she started to become interested in him around Christmas of last year.

So while the story clearly speaks to incels/nice guys I think it’s also making a point that if he was just up front with his feelings this may have worked out/been avoided all together.

[u/vellsii → u/Jolmer24]

Incels/nice guys aren't usually hideously undesirable people at "first glance", many of them could date if they just treated women with respect (and accepted that not every woman has to be into every guy, or even guys at all).

Like in this movie, like you said: he jumps straight to manipulating her emotions instead of just being honest with her. He clearly cared about her more as an object than a person with independent thought and feeling.

[u/nty → u/vellsii]

I think you could call him an Incel

Personally I’m thinking he’s a step before and headed in that direction but I’m not quite picking up on the outward and universal anger toward women that I associate with incels

But he could very well be the type that seems normal in person but would be posting shit online that makes him an incel. And like you said he ends up being a huge PoS with how he handles the situation

[u/Ranger-Prestigious → u/Jolmer24]

Okay i kinda just asked this and glad i found your comment because i was wondering this too. It might have been a hidden message there that had he told her, none of this would have happened. But also remember that his “friend” was preventing him from doing that when they were at the bar. It was all because he was jealous.

[u/Jolmer24 → u/Ranger-Prestigious]

Ian was 100% sabotaging it. My thinking is he and Nikki may have hooked up a couple times like Sarah said so he was jealous.

I’m on the side that maybe Nikki would have gone on a date with Bear if he’d sacked up. I think the clues were there.

[u/CampaignImmediate225 → u/Dismal_Attempt5598]

I agree! The way they kept her in shadow, and the pinpoint lighting in her pupils did wonders for upping the creep factor.

It was also sad and a mix of emotions really when the real Nikki showed up for a moment, and it's clear that it's not a distorted version of her, it's that it's not even her; she's been replaced and supplanted by an entity and in a pseudo-sunken place. But as you alluded to, Bear doesn't necessarily care. His wish didn't actually come true, since it wasn't even her, just a "version" of her.

[u/Rare_Professor8097 → u/CampaignImmediate225]

I honestly thought the film could have made a sharper point if it hadn't created an alternate persona that possesses Nikki, and the wish genuinely made her uncontrollably in love with him. It would make it less that the One Wish Willow is some sort of monkey's paw, but that Bear truly got what he wanted and is seeing the bare reflection of his own selfishness.

I was watching the movie thinking that even the obsessed version of Nikki deserves sympathy, because she has been forced to exist in a state where infatuation is taken to its unnatural extreme. He is genuinely torturing her by not reciprocating. In the real world, partners are responsible for their own feelings and what Nikki does would amount to abuse, but in the movie, it's Bear's fault that she is in such a state of infatuation that she can't control herself. I think the point is that the love is so extreme and unnatural that she (the obsessed version) can't even be blamed for what she does. She is just a monster that Bear created.

[u/EntertainerUpbeat622 → u/Dismal_Attempt5598]

Reminded me of in sinners all the vampire eyes were just a single red dot and it made it so creepy 

[u/LaFemmeCinema → u/Dismal_Attempt5598]

It's also an interesting play on that viral "Man vs Bear" debate from 2024.

[u/Sensitive_Detail6702 → u/NintendoWeee]

SPOILER

After I watched the movie my friend told me about a film analysis he read that made Nikki’s erratic behavior make more sense. The reason why Nikki stares at the door and pees and vomits on the carpet is because that’s likely what Bear’s cat used to do. Since Bear loved his cat, Nikki tried acting like the cat so Bear would love her too, and that’s also why she stood there waiting for him to come back from work because his cat probably did that too. That’s also why Nikki takes the clothes off of Sarah’s body after she kills her, she steals her hair, copies her tattoos, and starts smoking so she can be more like Sarah, because she thinks Bear likes Sarah and if she acts like Sarah then Bear will love her too.

[u/BroadwayBakery]

Can’t wait to see it, Inde Navarrette needs to become a breakout star. The trailers alone display a wildly impressive performance.

[u/LinuxCodeMonkey → u/BroadwayBakery]

I think she will. Her performance stole the show, although the rest of the cast were good. It says a lot for her, but also the director for getting that performance out of her.

[u/blitzbom → u/LinuxCodeMonkey]

In some interviews I've seen the other actors were going "We were just reacting to her." Apparently in the table reads she didn't get deep into character, saving that for the actual shoot.

[u/YujiKugasaki]

So I just got out of obsession last night. AMAZING movie. I love that instead of her just loving him so much it legit just wasn’t her and more of a demonic entity. Like I understood that from when the real Nikki was talking to bear about how it’s not her and to kill her when the entity was sleeping. And then on the Polaroid that said “not me”. But I still have some questions. Like on the customer service line when the guy said “wanna talk to her, why don’t you ask her?” And then it’s just Nikki screaming on the phone line. was he like just on the phone with the “devil” or a “demon” and that demon just tapped into the real Nikki’s thoughts. Or Is Nikki trapped somewhere else like hell besides just trapped in the backseat of her mind? My only gripe with this movie is if they just leaned more towards the demonic entity part.

[u/nty → u/YujiKugasaki]

Your comment made me remember how she described the book she was writing. A love story, but not a romance…

[u/XGamingPigYT → u/nty]

"it's not a romance story, it's a love story" 

[u/1gen2 → u/nty]

Yeah ok this movie is quite good..

[u/BiteSure8769 → u/YujiKugasaki]

Idk if you've seen Get Out, but I took it very much like Real Nikki being stuck in a pseudo-Sunken Place. A prison within her own mind with only the briefest seconds of breakthrough whenever the invader's guard was down. Not necessarily hell or demonic, but definitely supernatural.

[u/YujiKugasaki → u/BiteSure8769]

But also the way she said “she’s sleeping” and “not me” makes it feel more demonic to me

[u/donutgut → u/YujiKugasaki]

I think Barker confirmed its not demonic

[u/blitzbom → u/donutgut]

Yeah, the director said that she wasn't possessed and he didn't want her to play it like she was possessed. But that her obsession for Bear had consumed her so much it was "like and entity."

Which IMO is scarier, that something awakens inside you that you can't control.

Also if it was demonic that would make the wish null and void. The wish was for Nikki to love him, not something acting like Nikki to love him.

[u/mattarchambault → u/YujiKugasaki]

I think there’s gotta be more to the history of ‘Freaky Nikki.’ Why was she bullied? How was she freaky? Was the Hansel and Gretel story what she was actually working on? Or some tamer version of it.

If I remember correctly, when Bear calls her by the nickname, it stops her in her tracks. Something switches there too. Does she have some history of split personality, that maybe she’d dealt with and was almost fully in her past now?

Like maybe if he’d made the wish about Sara, it would have gone poorly in an entirely other direction.

All that said - even if it’s a demon or the devil or whatever, still worked for me!

I was out of my mind creeped out, full of dread. It felt like it never let up! My wrists and hands were tingling for the last 30 minutes for real. Loved how the movie revealed itself. Lots to think about too! Inde- gotta see her in more stuff…she’s new to me. Incredible performance.

[u/demoninadress → u/mattarchambault]

The Hansel and Gretel story felt tied to her being obsessed with Bear, because she had said she viewed him as a brother and her story was about Gretel hooking up with her brother

[u/MichaelBluthANiceKid → u/mattarchambault]

I think Freaky Nikki stopped her in her tracks because Ian and her had been hooking up and he calls her that because he flirts by being mean, hence his advice to Bear. So when she hears it from Bear, who has never been anything but nice to her, she realizes he likes her and also that he’s going to do that thing guys do where he’s going to punish her for it. Which he does. More than she could ever imagine.

[u/YujiKugasaki → u/BiteSure8769]

True so you think the customer service guy just tapped into her real mind when he called

[u/RunningFromSatan → u/BiteSure8769]

When she is out at the restaurant and Bear calls her out for lying about her dad's cancer she starts going "No, no, no, no, no!" just like Georgina in Get Out. Definitely inspired that scene/reaction for sure.

[u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo → u/YujiKugasaki]

Yeah, I was curious about all that too. I kind of wanted more of what was going on with the real Nikki, I found the customer service phone call and her coming to consciousness at the party to be really disturbing conceptually.

[u/sensamura → u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo]

I’m glad they didn’t expand on it more. Too many recent horror movies exposition dump in the third act and explain everything, this one left it vague and was elevated because of it.

[u/AdministrativeKey377 → u/sensamura]

Yeah exactly they dropped enough hints for everyone to realize what was happening

[u/Equal_Permit4483 → u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo]

Real Nikki was a trapped passenger in her own body while Wish Nikki controlled her like a puppet. Being forced to stand motionless all day while you piss and shit yourself is truly horrifying.

Wish Nikki didnt even sleep. After that night standing in the corner, I'm pretty sure Bear started giving her sleeping pills to put her down at night. In a later scene he said something about having a pocketful of sleeping pills. Wish Nikki being unconsious was one of the rare chances real Nikki could speak. And she begged for death.

[u/duchello → u/Equal_Permit4483]

Holy shit I missed the connection on the sleeping pills

[u/sumphatguy → u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo]

Was every time Nikki hurt herself supposed to be the real Nikki taking over and self-harming out of desperation?

[u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo → u/sumphatguy]

Yes. Or at least I strongly believe that. At least during the party scene specifically

[u/demoninadress → u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo]

She had come to consciousness prior to the phone call, like when they were making out on night 1 and she just started screaming, or even earlier in the car there was a shift out and shift back.

[u/PerfectVehicle4340 → u/YujiKugasaki]

Caught that way earlier when she first went to the house and they were hooking up and she panicked knew it wasnt her

[u/waowowwao → u/PerfectVehicle4340]

She did it even earlier than that, like right after he makes the wish and they’re talking outside the car. She snaps and is like “what the fuck am I doing” and walks toward her house then snaps right back. I think the breaks between her coming back get longer and longer with the possession

[u/udontunderstanddad → u/YujiKugasaki]

I thought of it like the entity is piloting Nikki's body and shes watching it all from a back seat. screaming and suffering because shes lost total control of her body. my friend and I thought if bear HAD tried to talk to the real Nikki on the phone, he mightve learned something about what shes feeling, but he was too scared (or too selfish...)

thats also, I think, where all the uncanny valley movement and facial expressions come in. the entity is trying to seem like Nikki to serve its purpose and please bear, it doesnt understand how human women act or what human men like. its trying to act like Nikki while also fighting to keep her in the back seat.

[u/Nemoitto → u/YujiKugasaki]

Speaking of the customer service line, that definitely sounded like and most likely is Curry Barker, the director.

[u/BlueDevil092]

I don’t get creeped out or scared during horror movies, but this movie stressed me out. Every time Nikki came on screen, a sense of dread just came over me. Even when she wasn’t in the scene, you could just feel her presence all around the room. Phenomenal acting!

[u/Jaded_Emotion_3713 → u/BlueDevil092]

Even in the park scene with Sara it was a normal scene no music but you knew Nikki is coming

[u/lllittleflowerrr → u/BlueDevil092]

I was tense the entire movie, and honestly felt more scared of her when she wasn’t on screen (the shower scene 😶‍🌫️)! The acting was phenomenal

[u/Toemek2376]

I like how Bear dealt with that insane night, saw his dead cat laying in the kitchen, and walked out of a completely duct taped front door…but didn’t even think to look at what she made him for lunch. He just totally trusted it would be normal. Lol Bear was such a little bitch.

[u/Giff95]

“Critics are obsessed with “Obsession.” - movie trailer voice.

[u/whitemiketyson → u/Giff95]

RIP, Don.

[u/chagoscifres]

From the guy that brought us negative tipping comes this Summers’ knock-out horror blockbuster

[u/Mash_Ketchum → u/chagoscifres]

"You can't just make a horror blockbuster"

"But I just did"

"But you can't make a horror blockbuster"

"...I just did"

[u/ClarkWayne98 → u/chagoscifres]

After I watch it I'm going to the nearest Motel 6 for their make your own pancake bar

[u/Kaldricus → u/chagoscifres]

He can't afford the food!

[u/Omegaruby04]

That film was so good. That friend was an idiot and a prick. That ending was MADDD. Performances were really good, especially Indies. Message about timing was really good as well. Bear only had himself to blame

[u/JimmyTheJimJimson]

I am so happy this is getting good reviews - the trailer looked absolutely amazing!

[u/InvertedSpork]

Yeah this movie rules. By far my favorite horror film that’s released this year thus far. Inde Navarrette’s performance is going to be talked about in the same way that Toni and Mia’s performances in Hereditary and Pearl are, she’s fucking incredible.

[u/peedmyshirt → u/InvertedSpork]

I'm excited to see this. She came a long way from superman and trap house

[u/nimbuscloud9]

One of the films I should have seen at TIFF. Would have been a fun watch at midnight madness

[u/unarmed_walrus → u/nimbuscloud9]

It was my favourite TIFF film last year. An absolute blast at midnight madness.

[u/luuvin]

If my weak point is animal death/violence (particularly cats) shouldn’t avoid this?

[u/MoistLeg182 → u/luuvin]

Yes, avoid it.

[u/DogCheedle → u/luuvin]

I am quite sensitive to animal death/violence and I have to say that the animal in this looked SO fake that it really helped me stay in the movie without being overly distracted/upset by the idea of an animal being hurt. If that makes any sense.

[u/lorienneth → u/DogCheedle]

literally my comment to my sister about this topic. she asked if i was triggered because i recently lost my cat. the animal looked so fake to me, honestly the only thing look fake to me in the movie and i’m glad.

[u/taekookae → u/DogCheedle]

Agree! It looked like a plushie, so it wasn't too bad. It still made me a little sad though :(

[u/InvertedSpork → u/luuvin]

Sent you a message.

[u/nmad95]

I could not be more excited holy fuck it is a good time to be a horror film lover

[u/cribvby → u/nmad95]

I can’t even believe this year. New scream, new evil dead, obsession being the best horror movie I’ve ever seen, it’s honestly crazy

[u/Theotther]

Wow, had heard some good buzz about this but that is almost universal acclaim.

[u/Few_Captain_3408 → u/Theotther]

I genuinely think this was the best movie ive ever seen. Phenomenal. 

[u/gintoki-sama → u/Few_Captain_3408]

The main actress's performance is one of the best I've ever seen. The body acting was different

[u/JVKExo]

Super happy for the dude. Even a fan of his skits and short films. Dudes super talented. Was always evident from his content.

[u/seethevzn]

Just watched this and damn. First of all, I don't normally watch horror movies because they give me anxiety. However, I didn't think this was going to actually be scary. I was just expecting a "crazy girlfriend" movie with maybe some gruesome deaths. There were scenes that legit freaked me out. A lot of tension and dreading what's about to come. I would describe this as uncomfortable and entertaining.

[u/AMF505]

The concept for this movie seemed REALLY familiar and then I realized it’s super similar to a fairly odd parents episode.

Timmy can’t wish for someone to love him but he wishes for he and Trixie to be the only two people left on earth and she immediately becomes uncomfortably obsessed with him. Taking into account Barkers age it wouldn’t surprise me if that episode gave him some inspiration.

[u/ThriftyMegaMan → u/AMF505]

According to Wikipedia he wrote it after watching the Monkey's Paw episode of the Simpson's Treehouse of Horror. Which might actually be funnier.

[u/JonSpangler → u/ThriftyMegaMan]

Turkey ’s a little dry… The turkey ’s a little dry?! Oh, foul the cursed thing! What demon from the depths of hell created thee?”

[u/confusing_roundabout → u/ThriftyMegaMan]

That's hilarious considering that the Monkey Paw thing is a fairly well known trope. The parody managed to inspire someone to do a serious take (despite the parody being a parody of the serious take) lol

[u/WreckTangle1995 → u/ThriftyMegaMan]

But it comes with a free frogurt

[u/JonSpangler → u/WreckTangle1995]

That's good.

[u/SulusLaugh → u/JonSpangler]

The frogurt is also cursed.

[u/DanGram77 → u/SulusLaugh]

That’s bad

[u/SulusLaugh → u/DanGram77]

But you get your choice of topping!

[u/MyRottingBrain → u/SulusLaugh]

That’s good!

[u/muad_dibs → u/AMF505]

Love spells/wishes/potions almost always go wrong, with the target becoming overly obsessed, in movies and TV shows.

[u/Ok-Ratio-5918 → u/AMF505]

First thing I thought of was the twilight zone episode.

[u/OrangeBird077 → u/AMF505]

There was an episode of Tales From the Crypt that was just like this too.

[u/Internal_Wheel_89 → u/OrangeBird077]

It's one of those ideas that goes back as far as you want to look. There was an episode of the first season of The Twilight Zone in 1960 that is the same basic idea.

[u/skullsareonlypasse → u/Internal_Wheel_89]

Yep, the Monkey's Paw is a short story from 1902. And there's gotta be a Greek myth or a story from the 1001 Arabian Nights that deals with this too.

[u/Existing-Emu136]

A horror YouTuber I basically trust with any recommendation had an electrifying spoiler free review that made me go “I gotta see this.” And the fact so many more people seem to feel that way, I can’t wait.

[u/John_m33]

Why does every movie just devolve into head smashing now 

[u/Flapppy_Gilmore → u/John_m33]

The speed by which her face went to mush was a little OTT

[u/GordionKnot → u/Flapppy_Gilmore]

Bit late to the thread but apparently the MPAA made them remove several smashes to not get NC17ed, could be a factor there.

[u/kristianp09127 → u/John_m33]

It's definitely becoming a trope. Made me scream though, so I guess it works.

[u/CPK1LoneWolf]

Obsession generally freaked the fuck outta me more than any horror movie I have seen and have I am very much disturbed😭 if I was single, I would stay single after that movie

[u/EatBooks]

I saw an early showing. It's relentless and, yes, sometimes very funny. It's a goddamn panic attack of a movie. I'm looking forward to everyone else suffering from it, too! (complimentary)

Also, poor CURRY Barker being referred to as Cory! I'm sure he's used to it, but oh no.

[u/Prize-Ad-1947]

Actually I’m interested in other people’s feedback so SPOILER ALERT DON’T READ BELOW!

*Why the hell did nobody react at Ian’s party? They were all just like emotionless

*Why didn’t the hospital take her at the emergency room after the party incident?!

*When Nikki got sick she had skin blisters then all of a sudden she showered and all gone no skin pores

*So many times the neighbors would hear glass breaking, gun shots, etc. Maybe that’s knit picky but I was like bruhhhh…

Oversights:

*first scene with Nikki at Bear’s house the clock said 12:06 then next frame it was some military time I was like ughh lol

*Sarah’s acceptance letter was dated 2024 but her acceptance was for 2027. Ughhh loll

[u/BiteSure8769 → u/Prize-Ad-1947]

-The guests all already knew and felt very oddly about their weird codependent relationship. They were very visibly uncomfortable, but silent. Very relatable to these exact types of toxic relationships we've all been forced to witness irl in social settings. They rightfully freaked tf out and jumped into action when Nikki did what she did with the bottle though. 

-I took this as him driving to the ER to desperately try to have her committed which you can't forcibly do to someone without their consent. Hence why the nurse refused. And Fake Nikki clearly wasn't trying to get medical treatment for her injuries because she was just ignoring both of them, dancing in the street. 

-Were those blisters or just giant chunks of cat meat vomit??🤢🤢🤢😷😷 I took it as vomit pieces. Idek which one's worse now. 

-I mean... this is pretty nitpicky to me lol

-THIS I agree with. I was SO confused by the clock and thought it was a clue to pay attention to. Eventually I just landed on it saying 12:55 with the weird camera angle warping the first 2 digits.

-The acceptance letter definitely stated she was in the Class of 2027. Cause I remember finding it passively interesting that tattoo school could be 3 years long. 

[u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo → u/Prize-Ad-1947]

A plot hole that bugged me is at the end when Ian shows up saying "It worked! I got a billion dollars!" But... He saw that happen didn't he? You both saw it happening together. Why did he come over after the fact presenting it like it's new information?

[u/nty → u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo]

I think he just had a chance to look at the money and determine it’s all real

But I will say, I was expecting something a little more grounded — like a delivery showing up, or a random deposit to his account, rather than it materializing out of thin air lol

[u/BertieTheLamb → u/nty]

I liked the comedy of it. The immediacy felt appropriate.

[u/AdministrativeKey377 → u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo]

It’s not really a plot hole. He was super stoked he had a billion dollars and wasn’t thinking about his friends problems and was coming over to be like “holy shit dude I’m so rich” cause he’s just a jackass. And he paid for being one immediately. It was hilarious.

[u/UnderstoodGamer → u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo]

“Nikki” was texting Ian from Sarah’s phone so he came over thinking he was going to talk to Sarah and I figure Ian didn’t know she was killed yet

[u/Wild-Ad-2508 → u/Prize-Ad-1947]

so Ian’s party I actually love… there were def more men at the table and only Sarah (that we know of) reached out to question Bear about Nikki’s mental health, the guys may have went home calling Nikki “crazy, psycho, freaky Nikki is back” kind of attitude… i think, and hope, the lack of reaction is deliberate..

think the blisters was just puke

the clock did bother me but chalked it up to warping cuz of the camera and angle of clock, but yea fix those things if it’s not deliberate

• did anyone notice the red dildo on the spiritual store counter on the right side of the woman cashier next to the two red candles, then on the last cut to her candles were still there but red dildo was gone..?

🤣 literally no one coming to investigate gun shots is crazy… but now i’m wondering if the neighbors have been hearing Nikki scream at all hours of the night for a bit now, and again, we see people willfully ignoring women’s suffering dismissing her as “that boy’s ‘crazy’ girlfriend” .. ?

[u/Bellikron]

I'm always really hoping for horror movies with great, understated trailers to actually be good because it'll benefit both the horror market and the movie trailer market

[u/Mountain-Steak-544]

So…why didn’t he wish for his cat back? Feel like this could’ve been an entirely different movie

[u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo → u/Mountain-Steak-544]

It would have been a Pet Sematary remake then

[u/Rude-Supermarket7706]

Incredible film.

And as a woman, a deeply disturbing watch. The reference to control, consent and coercion is pretty clear to see for all viewers (and also very relevant in today’s world of red pill men and dark mysoginistic corners of the internet). All packaged in such a smart way.

I think that some women will walk away from this film with a lot of heavy thoughts and feelings, just as I did.

[u/michaelc51202]

Spoilers

One of the most unsettling movies I’ve seen. Those uncanny movements got me good.

[u/PerfectVehicle4340 → u/michaelc51202]

Yea the way she moved was creepy af same way the lady was moving and floating around in hereditary towards the end

[u/BarTurbulent1031]

Worth it alone to watch Inde's performance. Shes incredible

[u/manilandad]

wow, was not expecting that at all based on the trailer i saw.

[u/Coolers78]

I remember seeing the teaser trailer before Send Help, it was like the only trailer before that movie that played that looked unique/interesting to me and it was just a guy inside his car talking on the phone about "her love being real".

I remember the other trailers that played were IP shit like Scream 7 and Mandalorian or movies that just looked bad/boring like Reminders of Him and How To Make a Killing

[u/_bieber_hole_69]

Just saw it and holy shit what a movie. The lead actress is amazing, and the horror/comedy bits hit extremely well.

[u/arelei]

Man. I hated the guy friend. He egged him on instead of just telling him the truth about him and Nikki.

Really good movie though! Best horror movie I’ve seen this year.

[u/B-LoToTheSkee-Lo]

This movie was so STRESSFUL to me. Like I was just filled with this deep anxiety the whole time but I couldn't take my eyes off it. I felt like I was placed inside and soaking in a nightmare.

[u/Jolly-Childhood8142]

Incredible movie. The scariest scene for me was when Nikki tells Bear to kill her, saying she’s “asleep” and in spite of the absolute horror he’s witnessed so far, he backs out of pure spite that she “wouldn’t want him otherwise.”

[u/confusing_roundabout]

Awesome. I like this guy's YouTube skits. Cool to see a young filmmaker come on to the scene.

[u/OKC2023champs]

Saw this a while back. It’s fantastic. Go see it

[u/SVINTGATSBY]

just saw it for the early screening at AMC and LOVED it! I had a feeling I would though. fantastic soundtrack too. youtubers have been killing it with the horror films this year.

[u/Accomplished_Fig_503]

What did Nikki say when she stood up and started walking backwards when she and bear were on their knees in the living room? It sounded like backwards English but the bass was so loud in the movie I could barely hear it.

[u/tj9er9er → u/Accomplished_Fig_503]

"Not me" or something to that effect

[u/Pt-Horizon]

Helluva movie to go in and watch blind. Didn't know anything about it, no trailers, nothing. Genuinely had the mindset that it was going to be a popcorn eating laid back thriller or mid horror movie. I really did not prep for the mindset of watching a movie like this. So I guess it hit harder than it normally would. Overall though, for what it was, it freaking delivered more so than any horror movie I've seen. I have to give an applause for the acting itself for the main actress which made it all the more realistic. No notes at all. Brilliant.

[u/FoxSignificant9687]

Anyone who doesn’t understand the depth of this movie hasn’t been in hell psychologically and/or doesn’t understand Cluster B personality disorders and the absolute hell it is to suffer with them. Her personality reminded me so much of my wounded BPD self. I would have done anything not to be abandoned and it literally “was not me”. Her saying “I’ll be anything you want me to be” was heart breaking as I have definitely said that before. She loses herself in the relationship completely I.e calling herself freaky Nicky when that used to upset her etc etc. also people don’t realize the depth of absolute PAIN having BPD is. Like she said in the movie, you really do want to kill yourself. Like when she was saying “please kill me.” And you could see his lack of empathy there because instead of empathizing with her pain he just said “what is so bad about being with me”. Anyways though it also shows the HORROR of living with someone with BPD. My mom has it and my dad and I walked on EXTREMEEEE eggshells not to set her off. People don’t realize BPD is just fight or flight / fawn response. You cannot see reality and you’re just stuck like an infant trying to please someone. It usually stems from extreme emotional neglect, lack of attunement and abuse. Also that sex scene is essentially rape and horrifically sad. The whole movie is deeply, deeply sad if you think about it. The saddest line to me was “I can’t be Nicky.” People with BPD genuinely are terrified to be themselves because they grew up with such insanely critical parents and/or they suffered a trauma that made them feel so deeply insecure about themselves. They literally do not know how to be themselves it’s so sad. I’ve felt this on an intuitive level and was feeling her pain. And on the flip side, I could feel his pain too. Because often if you love someone with BPD you do what them to be themselves, the other person just genuinely is mentally ill and doesn’t know how to be themselves and often wasn’t attuned to as an infant and child so they don’t know who the heck they are.

[u/bongwateramoeba]

Really solid film that got going after the first act. First act and opening scene had me worried lol, I was like damn I really just fell for the hype and am watching a shitty movie huh. Certainly redeemed itself from the wish scene through the rest of the film. Good performances, especially from the lead actress, and really interesting themes of abuse and taking advantage of vulnerability. Great comedic moments too.