Nice guys finish last

At the time of this posting, I’ve watched Obsession at least 7 times.

I do tend to be one of those people whose opinions don’t align with popular culture, so when this movie came out, I rolled my eyes and thought I’d hate it.

I did not.

Even upon watching it for the first time, I was surprised that I enjoyed a gory horror movie about abuse. That particular genre of horror typically leans into the violence aspect. The number of gratuitous rpe scenes I’ve watched over the years is fucking insane. Most filmmakers portray rpe like voyeurism prn. As someone who has been rped, it’s tragic to see films feed into the very thing they’re cautioning against.

Obsession is not that film. It subverts the “clingy girlfriend” trope and shows the lengths a man will go to get what—who—he wants. I know “nice guys.” I was married to one, and they are exactly this. They project calm and kindness, but behind closed doors, they’re ruthless. They use their persona to gaslight you into thinking you’re delusional so they can justify what comes next.

Bear is a piece of shit, and Curry Barker makes that known from the opening sequence. In no way does Bear give a fuck about anyone other than himself: not the waitress, or the cat, and certainly not Nikki. He spends the movie either desperate for Nikki to like him or pissed off she’s become too obsessive.

You can’t have it both ways.

But that doesn’t stop Bear. Nothing does. Not Real Nikki breaking through Wish Nikki to remind him that she has not consented. Nor Wish Nikki smashing Sarah’s face to a pulp with a brick. No, Bear treats her like an errant child acting out in front of company. As the movie progresses, Bear gains confidence. He’s indignant, even. He’s essentially holding a woman hostage and abusing her. That’s psychopathic behavior.

We all know Bear is the horror here.

Well, most of us. Obsession has become a litmus test, much like the men vs bears conversation (it’s probably not a coincidence the villain’s nickname is Bear). A Rorschach test, if you will. Who do you see when you look at Bear? Or Nikki? Hell, even Sarah or Ian. The answer tells us a lot about who you are and how you feel about women.

Obsession doesn’t need much to make it effective. Barker incorporates plenty of subtle nods to who Bear is without having to spell it out. Bear’s treatment of the waitress, how little he cares about the death of a pet, the way he gets mad at Wish Nikki for doing the very thing he asked for. The fact that he is consciously ignoring Real Nikki’s wants and needs to the point of abuse.

Inde Navarrette has, of course, earned praise for her portrayal of Wish Nikki and Real Nikki. She’s fantastic at showing the internal struggle between the two, the anguish that comes with the inability to leave. This is how abused women feel: stuck, hands tied, acting out whatever fantasy the man wants while internally SCREAMING for help.

Every time I watch it, I find something new. Barker is big on details, relying on the strength of the script while incorporating pops of brutal gore that highlight the very real violence women experience on a daily fuckin’ basis. It’s a masterpiece of horror: visually appealing and mentally interesting. Gore with a message.

Obsession is my favorite movie of 2026, and I suspect it’ll be on my list of favorites. I can’t recommend it enough…if you’ve got the capacity for it. The gore is quite brutal, but not extensive—enough to be shocking. Nikki is r*ped by Bear, and there’s a quick shot of it happening. Those who have experienced violence at the hands of men may want to avoid, but in my opinion, it’s clear where the filmmaker falls.