After an uncomfortable good-bye after dropping Nikki off after a bar trivia night, Bear makes the wish that she loved him “more than anyone in the fucking world”—not knowing it would actually come true. A change comes over Nikki and she walks back to his car and Bear immediately notices she is not acting like herself. And from there, things escalate quickly.

Interestingly, the “One Wish Willow” that Bear uses to wish for Nikki’s love was originally intended as a gift. But instead of being used as a token of his infatuation, it becomes the instrument guaranteeing hers. In reality, of course, there is nothing that you can say or do or buy to actually make someone love you: love is too complicated, even for magical wish-sticks. Whatever magic is harnessed by the “One Wish Willow” understands that the only way to make this forced “love” happen is through a kind of demonic possession.

Each character, through selfishness, inaction, or both, makes their own and others’ situations worse—the most grievous of which is Bear, who refuses to step out of the weird limbo he is in with Nikki—both pre- and post-wish.

Obsession has been well received, with a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 4.2 average on Letterboxd. On top of that, it’s had an historic three consecutive weeks of increasing box office. Obsession speaks to the current moment—whether that’s unclear boundaries in relationships, fear of rejection and awkwardness, or male loneliness (and entitlement).

I’m sure we’ll all be in for another grim and interesting movie with Curry Barker’s upcoming Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars