Obsession Review

Horror is a genre that allows audiences to experience both an on the surface visual experience as well as a deeper study or understanding of  the complexities of humanity. While each horror movie may present us with images that elicit our deepest fears, the real shock of horror is the feelings you get deep down about what's happening on screen, and the lingering feeling that stays with you long after the credits roll. 

Many directors have worked through the formulaic to create something truly authentic that allows the horror genre to become an ever evolving genre, and one movie that truly exemplifies how great horror can be lies in Obsession! Here I am having viewed this movie yesterday, and I'm still analyzing every scene and moment finding the deeper meaning behind everything. On the surface, it's a movie with the motif of: Be Careful What You Wish For, but, while that sets the stage for the plot, it's not even the crux of what is truly going on here. It's deeply, layered presentation accompanied by truly disturbing images, terrifying scenarios, and outstanding performances may just make this my overall favorite movie of 2026. Curry Barker's directorial debut into feature films is a massive success, and his vision shines brightly in every frame, and every frame has a lot to say. Each second of screen time is used wisely, and the camera shots, blended with shadows, close-up shots, long takes, etc. allows the script to resonate more with the audience through profound intensity, concentrated insanity, and petrifying, ominous, bloodcurdling storytelling. A movie can have a great director, but it can only truly work when the cast is able to carry out the script in an adept manner, and Obsession certainly delivers on that front. 

One of the strongest aspects of this movie is that it has a smaller cast, which allows for more layered characterization and an overall better focus on the script's big picture. The movie is seen through the perspective of Michael Johnston's Bear. Bear is an introvert, who lacks confidence, and is smothered by his overwhelming feelings he has for his best friend, Nikki. You get the idea of how lonely he is, and also how awkward he is in many situations. While there's nothing wrong with being a "nice guy", there's always the stigma that every nice guy feels they're owed love. While he's seen as the protagonist of the movie, in many ways I actually see him as the antagonist, because he ultimately creates all the chaos that unfolds on screen without any notion of thinking he's ever the problem. I certainly can see how hard it is for Bear to traverse through his days based on how he struggles with mental illness, as well as his gauche personality, and on that front I do feel sympathy for him, but, his fierce focus on wanting Nikki as more than a friend shows his dark side. Johnston's performance is magnificent, and really helps to sell the unhinged aspects of the overall story. 

While Johnston's performance as Bear really sets the pace from the outset of the story, it's the performance of Inde Navarrette as Nikki that gives this movie it's true essence. Her performance is absolutely outstanding! This is such a star making performance watching her toggle between charming normalcy and deranged menace. Through her physical performance (becoming almost demonic at times), her facial expressions, and her vocal mannerisms, she was able to balance both the light and the dark of this character in such an adroit manner. There are so many unsettling scenes that Navarrette makes even more frightening, such as scenes where she watches Bear sleep to laughing uncontrollably to bloodcurdling screams to poem reading, and everything in between that makes this movie feel more interesting as a whole any time Nikki is on screen. Descending into unadulterated madness, while still maintaining a hint of the sweet, innocent ingenue that Bear envisioned in the wish displays how gripping and compelling the Nikki character is. She might be portrayed as the antagonist, but having lost control of who she is both physically and emotionally, in many ways Nikki redefines what the horror final girl is all about. Nikki is struggling to break out of the wish fulfillment prison she's been locked into, and the real Nikki is screaming to be released and come back out. Navarrette's ability to descend into the darkest corners of what we envision a toxic relationship to be creates one of the most refreshing, as well as exciting characters in modern horror. Nikki is the both the terror and the tragic victim of this story. Navarrette is so charismatic, stunningly beautiful, and displays radiant range that you're completely baffled that she's only 25, and just starting her career! I was completely floored by how stellar she was here!  Inde Navarrette gives one of the best performances you'll find in the horror genre, and, IMO, the best female performance of 2026 so far! She certainly deserves consideration for both the Oscars and the Golden Globes for her work here, because it really is that good! 

Obsession is a movie that will make you scared. I'm not talking about a jump scare here. You'll feel the horror inside of you watching this. My heart was beating fast, I could feel chills on my spine. I felt it unsettling my stomach. It really pulls you in, because the story is so compelling. Nikki and Bear's relationship might not be the most real thing, as it's conjured through magic, but everything happening on the screen always feels authentic, and watching the dream turn into a living nightmare is always engaging. Along with being legitimately scary in the most fantastic ways, there's also a violent component to the movie that brings out the deeper aesthetic into a remarkable visual aspect. It's stylized in a way that the gore adds to everything, and, it's done in such a shocking manner that you don't have time to breathe as it's happening! There's a particular moment in the third act that will immediately have you screaming at the screen. You know it's going to happen just based on how horror works, but when it does, you just react in the moment, and there are so many times here when you can't believe what you just saw happened, but it did, and that makes the movie and the horror genre matter more. Along with these aspects, the synth soundtrack by Rock Burell is excellent selling the emotional aspects of both Nikki and Bear. The melodious becomes cacophonous, and each note allows the darkness in each scene bring forth a light that is unsettling, but also calming in a unique way. 

From Curry Barker's direction to a masterpiece performance by Inde Navarrette as Nikki to a fantastic lead performance by Michael Johnston as Bear to scintillating, complex storytelling, solid side performances by Megan Lawless as Sarah and Cooper Tomlinson as Ian to a wonderful modern horror aesthetic filled with grisly images, unsettling atmospheres and a haunting soundtrack, Obsession proves creativity and ingenuity still exists in the movie industry. It's truly a one of a kind experience, and one of the best movies I've seen in not only horror, but the industry as a whole in quite some time! 

Stranger Things: The Right Side Up (Series Finale) Review *Spoilers included

 On July 15, 2016, Netflix would launch a show that undeniably and undoubtedly became the definitive show of the streaming service, as well as allowing for subscriptions to increase exponentially: Stranger Things! I remember first sitting down to watch the show without any idea of what it's premise was, and from that first episode, I was immediately enthralled by the symbiosis of supernatural elements and the world of 1980's pop culture, blended with John Hughes style storytelling that helped shape some of the best characters of the 21st century, as well as some of the most iconic. It's a show that made me realize there are still great television programs out there, and having just watched the finale tonight, I can definitively say that it's one of the best shows I've seen. When television is good, you just feel it, and this world and these characters have certainly made me realize that over the course of these nine years. 

Everything that's happened over the course of this show has been building to this finale. There was meticulous planning to make sure everything and everybody that's been introduced in the show had a part to play, and with a large ensemble cast that can hit some pitfalls, but for me I truly feel they stuck the landing. Sure, everybody will have nitpicks here and there about how they would prefer things to end, but I think it was as exemplary as it could be. Each volume had it's own focus, but when you go back and look each volume was always building towards something epic, and each little detail was shaped through the characters, writing and overall presentation of the show. 

Essentially, the finale was split between both the supernatural and...well, okay, I'll use it the natural elements of the story. One of the things I like the most about this show is when characters split into groups. Each group has a specific task, and each task leads to achieving the ultimate mission of destroying the Upside Down for good. It allows the audience to see how vast the Upside Down really is, and the brilliant manner of which each group is comprised allows for the dramatic elements of those character's story arcs to find a resolution. Each arc deals with two aspects of the story, and it really sells why this show has become the juggernaut it is. 

 One of the best aspects of these supernatural quests shows how much each character has grown from when we were first introduced, and that's the mark of a truly great show. Finding your inner strength and using that to combat the obstacles in front of you to become the best version of yourself has always been the core message of this show, and it's echoed in both physical and emotional ways here. The idea of control is always a huge part of these scenes. One of my favorite movies of all time is Inception, and these scenes remind me of the different dream levels experienced throughout there. This concept is used brilliantly to demonstrate how expansive Vecna's reach is, but it also shows that despite the looming threat, there is always a luminous path through the bleak and dreary confusion. Watching both the kids and adults work together to save each other, and, by extension Hawkins is fascinating to watch. It just makes you feel good to watch everybody come together, help each other recognize their strengths, and cast out the demons lurking around the corner figuratively...although, in this case literally as well! 

If I had to pick my favorite overall part of the action portion of the finale, it would definitely be the final battle. We all knew it was building to this moment where Eleven vs. Vecna and The Mindflayer would battle each other in a massive confrontation to the bitter end. Watching them battle each other in such an violent, yet artistic manner was magnificent. Without a doubt, Eleven will always be my favorite character from the show. Let's face it, though, all the girls on this show are extraordinary! I am a big fan of female characters, and all of them make a huge difference in everything on this show, and especially in this finale. Eleven really is the key to everything, but what is so exciting about this is that everybody found a way to contribute to Vecna & The Mindflayer's demise. Nancy becoming this bad ass warrior akin to Sarah Connor in Terminator 2 or, since we're in the 1980's Ellen Ripley in Aliens just blasting away showing she's not this timid girl next door anymore was awesome. Will Byers finally shaking off all the fear, dread and trauma he's dealt with over the course of the show finally finding his confidence, strength and happiness to break Vecna down to his core is everything, especially if you're a fan of the show since the beginning. Noah Schnapp has been fantastic in this entire final season, and it was great seeing him finally being the one with the power instead of being the one to feel powerless. Now, we can't talk about how great Vecna's demise was without mentioning Joyce. Winona Ryder has always been one of my favorite actresses, and one of the reasons I started watching the show was because she was cast in it. For the entirety of the show, we've always seen Joyce fiercely protective of her children for very good reason, but she's always had a passive approach to everything, but in this finale the moment I've wanted happened, and I enjoyed every damn minute of it. Joyce channeling her inner Jack Torrance treated Vecna like a door at the Overlook Hotel, and it was spectacular to watch. Vecna/Henry is the personification of malevolence, and a truly despicable character. Yes, Henry was ultimately too consumed by the dark, but he chose to stay on that path, and caused so much pain, strife and destruction that his end was inevitable. I thought Jamie Campbell Bower was impressive in the role. I also think Vecna is one of the coolest visual characters, and for the purposes of the story, Vecna should look as intimidating as he does, and he certainly was. 

 Millie Bobby Brown's performance as Eleven throughout this show has been the heart of the show. Her story was always the one I was most invested in, and the way they approached the demise of the Upside Down as a whole was certainly logical, and story wise made perfect sense. I knew there had to be one major character that would meet their end, because realistically for the fans to appreciate the entire journey, it has to happen. I always had an inkling that this was the only way to balance everything out. Eleven was the only one strong enough to make it work, and her sacrifice is the ultimate act of heroism. Protecting the people that took her in and raised her as friends and family was a beautiful conclusion for the Eleven character. I certainly felt the melancholic feelings of the characters. The natural reactions to what happens echoes the memories the core characters have shared since they found her in the pouring rain. There's definitely an ambiguity about her fate. It reminds me of Elphaba in Wicked or The Dark Knight Rises. There's that glimmer of hope that perhaps she is still alive and what we're told in the epilogue is the truth, but for the time being I think she did make the ultimate sacrifice. I think there will be more to this world in years to come, and we'll find a definitive answer to this, but for right now the uncertainty is certainly intriguing! 

The epilogue of the finale was really well done. The John Hughes style storytelling was entertaining, as well as emotional. Some of my favorite parts were Gaten Matarazzo's Dustin Henderson's valedictorian speech. What was great about it is how he mirrored what Eddie would have done in that moment. Dustin has always been one of my favorite parts of the whole show, and I thought he was brilliant here being a rebel instead of a conformist. There's nothing wrong with being a little stranger, and doing things along the way that help you stand out, and Dustin exemplified that here. Joyce and Hopper finally finding the moment they've been looking for since Season 3 was recognized, and it was great seeing them in pure bliss. I always liked their romantic subplot, because it's not a conventional romance, but it's something that works, and something I think fans can appreciate. However, the show ending in a similar way to how it began was ultimately the best way to go. Dustin, Mike, Will & Lucas returning to the old Dungeons and Dragons campaigns was a fitting conclusion. No matter what happens, these four will always be friends, and while the game is the familiar, the possibility of what's unfamiliar in the future feels exciting, which is echoed in Mike's storytelling and glimpsing the next generation of the Wheeler family carrying out tradition (how great was Nell Fisher as Holly in Season 5), but in her own, unique way. Mike closing the door on this adventure for the audience was a great parting shot telling us while this story may be over, perhaps there's another one waiting to happen when you open it. There's a world of possibilities, and it's great to think about the ideas of more stories set in this world in years to come. 

Nine years in Hawkins, Indiana has been a wild ride, and it's all been such an exciting adventure. Through exceptional characters, an excellent ensemble cast, a scintillating supernatural journey, great dramatic storytelling, and a roll of a dice or two, Stranger Things concludes it's narrative in the best way possible, however, much like Dustin and Suzie I wish this was truly a NeverEnding Story Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah!