A desperate wish for love turns into a nightmare in Obsession, the chilling supernatural horror film written and directed by YouTuber turned film-maker Curry Barker.
Blending psychological horror with a dark romantic premise, the film centers on Bear, a lonely music store employee whose unrequited feelings for his childhood friend push him toward a dangerous decision that unleashes terrifying consequences.
The movie stars Michael Johnston as Bear alongside Inde Navarrette, with Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter rounding out the cast.
Obsession first made waves at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it premiered as part of the festival’s Midnight Madness program, then went on to screen at other festivals, including Fantastic Fest and Sitges Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Feature Film. The movie is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on May 15, 2026, distributed by Focus Features.
The story follows a hopeless romantic who attempts to win the affection of his longtime crush by breaking a mysterious object known as the “One Wish Willow.” When his wish appears to come true, he soon realizes that some desires come with a terrible price. As the love he longed for turns into something far darker and more uncontrollable, Bear is forced to confront the terrifying consequences of manipulating fate.
In its coverage from the Toronto premiere, The Guardian described the film as a “frighteningly effective, and head-smashingly gory, cautionary tale”. The review gave the film 4 of 5 stars, and noted, “It’s a more serious film than one might expect given the silliness of the set-up but Barker still avoids losing himself in the tiresome dirge of po-faced trauma horror.”
Watch the official trailer for Obsession above.
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