After premiering nearly eight months ago at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the well-received “Obsession” is now getting it official release. It’s the sophomore effort from 26-year-old filmmaker Curry Barker who was recently announced to be writing and directing a new reimagining of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” for A24. That came as a surprise to many of us. But after seeing what he does in “Obsession”, it makes sense.

In the film Michael Johnston plays Baron “Bear” Bailey, a timid and insecure twentysomething who has developed feelings for his childhood friend and record store co-worker Nikki (Inde Navarrette). Bear is trying to work up the courage to finally tell Nikki how he feels. He seeks advice from their mutual friend Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) while remaining oblivious to the obvious affections of their other mutual friend Sarah (Megan Lawless).

After failing once again to express his love to Nikki, Bear stops by a novelty shop to buy her a gift. There he finds and buys a cheap wooden trinket called the “One Wish Willow”. More out of frustration than expectation, Bear follows the instructions on the box and wishes that Nikki loved him more than anything else in the world. To his shock, his wish comes true and Nikki instantly falls in love with him.

Their new romantic relationship seemingly starts great despite the suspicions of Ian and Sarah. But over time, Nikki starts to crack. Her adoring love turns into an unhinged obsession marked by psychotic episodes, violent mood swings, and uncontrolled jealousy. And things only get worse from there as Barker offers a dark, twisted, and satisfyingly gory examination of autonomy and codependency.

“Obsession” has its shocking moments, with some being gruesome enough to nearly earn the film an NC-17 rating. But the real terror comes in Navarrette’s chilling performance and in Barker’s unnerving use of sound. Blood-curdling screams and loud bangs offer jolts that are more than simply jump-scares. They’re authentic within the story and keep us on edge. Meanwhile Navarrette nails an incredibly demanding role that asks her to run the gamut of emotional extremes, often changing on a dime. She’s genuinely and shrewdly unsettling.

Sadly not everything in “Obsession” hits its mark. While Nikki is as captivating as she is frightening, Bear ends up stuck in one gear. He stays in shocked mode for nearly the duration, only occasionally showing another side of himself. Also, practically nothing is told about what’s behind it all. We never know the true source (is it magic, is it supernatural, is it something else?) and the rules seem plucked out of thin air. Thematically it’s not a big deal as Barker is far more interested in ideas of agency, attachment, etc. But narratively it leaves holes that I wish had been filled.

Still, it’s not easy to find fresh and original premises in the well-traveled horror genre. We get one with “Obsession”. It marks the emergence of Curry Barker, an exciting new voice with a big future. And for many of us, it introduces Inde Navarrette, an impressive young actress who fully deserves the praise she has been getting. Both energize what is a wickedly clever cautionary chiller that may stumble in spots yet plows some exciting new ground in horror.