May has been crazy so far with all these good movies coming out. It seems like it’s going to be that way till the end of summer, and I’m here for it, because I need something to cope or to look forward to with all this work and school stress. 

Can’t Wait

Although I initially planned to see Obsession next week, all the amazing, positive reviews I kept hearing about overcame my nonexistent self-control in the first place. So instead of waiting and risking spoilers, I convinced my husband to take me (for his birthday). My first thought when entering the theater was, “Oh wow, it’s almost full, and for a horror movie, how awesome”. The Movies were out of creme brulee, which made me sad (I was really fantasizing about cracking the hard sugared layer with my spoon). So I had a tea instead (I was full of shrimp Alfredo).

Indie on the big Screen

I saw only one trailer for this movie and an intriguing Instagram clip. Obsession premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival and was later picked by Focus Features for distribution. I didn’t know what to expect, but I looked forward to the creepy restaurant scene I’d seen on Instagram. 

Tease, Don’t Tell

The movie starts with Bear sitting in a restaurant, practicing a dialogue he thought would happen between him and Nikki, a girl he seemed to really like. I got distracted for a bit when they came to take our order, so all of a sudden Ian (Bear and Nikki’s friend) stops the painful rehearsal, and tells Bear that he needs to tease Nikki (because that always works, guys, please don’t). 

Such a Nice guy

Following Ian’s advice, Bear tries to delay seeing Nikki and doesn’t want to tell her anymore about his feelings for her. Nikki convinced Bear to meet for trivia and mentioned that she had let her crystal necklace fall in the sink. Bear goes to a mysterious shop to buy a new necklace for her because he’s such a good guy. He ends up buying this weird toy thing that you can make a wish on. By the end of the night, he fails to open up to Nikki about his true feelings and instead wishes she would become obsessed with him, which she immediately does.

Wait for it

The funny thing about Obsession is that if you were there for the buzz, because you saw the reels (like me), or a friend of a friend mentioned something to you, it wouldn’t feel like a horror, an uncomfortable shitshow, but no horror (at first). But I knew the movie was about to take a turn for the worse. Well, I wasn’t completely sure; I was just hoping. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when. I’m not going to get into much detail, because I did enough of that already. I’m just going to state what made my heart race yesterday, and also talk a bit more about Bear being pathetic for 108 minutes.

This Shit Freaky

As soon as Bear made that wish and witnessed its effect, it gave me ‘Companion’ vibes. Turns out good guy Bear is the same piece of shit as Josh in ‘Companion’. Bear knew that the real Nikki was somewhere inside of her own body, but the version of her that wanted Bear to death was not Nikki; that was something else. Bear should have known that twice on the first night in front of Nikki’s house, and on Bear’s bed, when Nikki totally freaked out when they were kissing, or at Ian’s “boys” hangout, that the real Nikki didn’t want to be there, but since he’s not the good guy that he believes he is, he didn’t care, like at all.

The biggest reveal should have been when the real Nikki told Bear to kill her; she didn’t ask to be killed, she begged. Bear even heard her screams when he dialed the number on the back of the wish toy thing that facilitated Bear’s wish. I say it like that so there is no confusion about where I stand on this. Everything that happens in the movie is Bear’s fault. He’s not the victim here. He didn’t even lift a finger to go back to the store to try to reverse the wish. Instead, he enjoyed Nikki’s obsession with him for a bit, till things quickly got out of control, his control. I didn’t feel one ounce of empathy for Bear. I did feel for Nikki (who just wanted to live her life, write, and I’m sure only had platonic love for Bear). 

A True Pound in the Heart

What terrified me was Nikki’s screams throughout the movie, her unpredictability, the way Nikki moved (you’ll have to see that for yourselves), and the perfect use of lighting to make us all terrified in the movie theater. No wonder people were raving about this indie movie last year. The true horror, however, is realizing what it means to live with someone who is obsessed with you, watching your every move and how you sleep (yes, Edward did that in Twilight, too, and it was just as creepy). 

A yes is yes

The message of the movie to me is clear, and it’s not to be careful what you wish for. Peeps, when you really like someone, take the risk and tell them how you feel. Don’t beat around the bush because you’re afraid they’ll reject you. If they do, you’ll have to deal with it. If you are so afraid, embarrassed, or whatever that it impedes you from telling how you feel, you don’t deserve them.

Also, you don’t own anyone; nobody is yours. Everybody is free to leave; a partner is not a crystal necklace that you buy, it’s not a product. That is consent. Obsession hit a nerve last night, as you might tell, and that’s good; I hope I’m not the only one. Especially in the light of the news a few weeks ago of an academy where men teach men how to sexually assault their wives/partners, just gross.

Also, I think it’s ironic that his name is Bear. Well, that’s a bear we won’t be choosing, am I right, ladies?

I feel like I focused more on the themes of the movie than on the writing, directing, and the amazing acting of Inde Navarrette, but they all did a superb job on this movie.

Have you seen the movie? Or did my commentary intrigue you? Let me know. 

Till next time!

Jammita