Movie Review: Obsession

3.5 stars out of 5

The poster tagline is “Be careful what you wish for” and that neatly sums up the Twilight Zone-esque plot of this movie: Nebbishy guy makes wish (on a Zone-era novelty item) that his unrequited devotion to the hot girl will be reciprocated eternally. He then learns the dangerous downsides of being the object of obsession. Hey that’s the title of this movie!

Obsession is a quality modern horror flick with a solid dose of clever comedy in the style of Zach Cregger’s Barbarian and Weapons. Writer/director Curry Barker (no relation to horrormeister Clive Barker) is not yet at a Cregger level but shows promise. There’s one particular jump scare that really impressed me.

Other almost familiar names: Megan Lawless as the-cool-girl-he-should-be-dating Sarah is not related to Lucy Lawless, and composer Rock Burwell is not related to Coen Brothers-and-more composer Carter Burwell.

The only actor I recognized was my old fave Andy Richter, as Sarah’s dad and owner of the music store where “the gang” all work. Sadly, he’s not given very much screen time at all.

I found leading man Michael Johnston more believable in the early going as nebbishy Bear than as panicky Bear when the shit starts going down. Nerdiness does not vanish in stressful situations! Physically, Johnston has a touch of Paul Mescal and Joaquin Phoenix that should serve him well in the future. Inde Navarrette is more successful as obsessed darling Nikki, bouncing between sickeningly sweet, maniacally sad, and very very very angry, and occasionally snapping back to normal with an “I’m just kidding.”

Maybe not a great movie, but easily entering the big-three pantheon of pop culture obsessions, along with the Animotion song and Calvin Klein’s perfume for men.