I have not been this excited about a movie in years.

I love horror movies and every single year I fall for the marketing hype of “the best horror film since [insert massive hit here]”.

In 2024, it was Longlegs, which was a disappointment. In 2025, it was Weapons, which was promising but not my favourite.

This year, however, was a completely different story.

If you’ve spent anytime online recently, then you may have also been unable to escape Curry Barker’s Obsession, which is the latest ‘next big thing’ in horror. Despite being released around two months ago, the discourse is still going strong around this one and the hype is not dying down. Let me tell you, that’s for good reason.

There are plenty of movie critics out there and horror fans who will tell you more factually what I’m about to say, but I just want to get my two cents out there – the reviews for this film are right.

Obsession truly stands out as one of the greats, in my opinion. It’s a defining movie for the decade and for this particular point in time.

Now, I have no history or education in film, so I won’t wax poetic about things you can read about elsewhere from people who know what they’re talking about. But I do want to say the reviews are true, the hype is real and this movie is so good I’ve had to tap out on my second rewatch.

It’s rare for a horror movie to live up to its trailer or to actually make me feel things. I love a jump scare as much as the next person and make sure to sit in the dark when watching anything with minor chords because I enjoy being scared by fiction. I love it when a movie about monsters or ghosts makes me unnerved in my own home and causes me to put the light on when I go to the toilet.

But Obsession is different. Because it’s not ghosts or monsters I’m frightened of this time, but a human. And no, I’m not talking about the incredibly unnerving performance by Inde Navarrette, although she is to blame for the jumping, the nervous tummy and the hiding behind a pillow.

The real villain of this story is a familiar figure to many of us – a seemingly harmless man. And while rewatching this evening, that fear became too much and I’ve had to tap out. In fact I’m writing this now with the lights on and comforting coffee shop jazz playing on my TV because I genuinely felt sick.

A horror movie is deemed a good one by me if it makes me scared. Obsession makes me sad and terrified, therefore it’s fucking brilliant.

Rewatching gives me a chance to really see what’s going on, not just get swept up in the compelling story and feel worried about what’s coming next. Now I know what’s coming next, I can truly analyse and appreciate what I’m seeing on screen and it’s all just bloody brilliant.

I’m blown away by the acting, of course. I have to remind myself that both Bear and Nicki are fictional, actively bringing to mind the interviews I’ve seen where both actors are healthy, happy and human because what I see on screen is so visceral.

My tap out point at this rewatch (because there is certain to be more) is when Nicki is left alone for the first time, after the now famous bedroom scene… If seen it, you know what I’m talking about. If not, I urge you to give it a go. I promise, it’s worth it.

Anyway, I do not tap out of movies for anything other than boredom, and that rarely happens because I’m often my own worst enemy. As a fan of found footage horror, I have sat through many a boring movie without tapping out. I have also sat through some scary, upsetting and downright gross scenes without tapping not. No, I’m not trying to sound cool, I’m just letting you know I’m usually great at choosing movies I’ll enjoy or at the very least get through.

So the fact I’ve had to tap out of this is big news.

It may not be the same kind of review a true critic could give, but it means a lot to me and cements Obsession as one of the best movies I’ve seen.

It’s fairly obvious to anyone watching who the true villain is and the reason why this film is so scary. Anyone who says otherwise is not someone I’d trust, to be totally honest with you. Bear is a convincing nice guy at first, but really such a sneaky little weasel that watching certain scenes as a woman feels a little traumatising. It’s bringing up concerns I didn’t even know I had or memories buried deep because, despite the insanity of the story, that kind of man is real.

And not to be a pick me, because I love that Navarrette is getting her flowers because she truly is the star, and I’m so excited to see what she does next as she’s so brilliant, I also want to highlight how fantastic Michael Johnston is beside her. Because my god, the rage and fear this man brings out in me as the film progresses is unreal. Hence why I have to remind myself that they’re actors, and in real life this guy hates his character as much as we do, because he’s almost too convincing as this pathetic, self obsessed and insecure little man on my screen.

It feels somewhat historic, the way these characters stand out in the story. It’s great to witness them finding their place among other brilliant horror icons like Kathy Bates as Annie, Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal or Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise; all renowned for how real they play it and how their performances stand out for making a story truly come alive.

Its another thing that makes Obsession a true great of the horror – in fact the whole cinema – world and a movie I’m happy to see go down in history. Especially for actors so young and an indie director!

There are so many things I want to talk about regarding this movie, but, as I said, I have no idea what I’m talking about. I could rant on about the lighting, the framing, the mix of frightening scenes and absurd dark humour, but it’s nothing you can’t read elsewhere. I basically just wanted to urge people who haven’t seen it already to give it a go and to also document my obsession with Obsession at this point in time because I simply can’t get it off my mind.

If you’re looking for a visceral, unnerving and genuinely terrifying movie, Obsession is the one for you.

Now I’m going to scroll and distract myself before I go to bed and I hope to finish my rewatch soon!

Speak soon,

Rachael.

Images: https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/One_Wish_Willow_Representative & https://www.instagram.com/p/DVv6VvODU9F/