If you have a phone and general access to social media, chances are you’ve heard of “Obsession” at least once. With its huge reception, “Obsession” has been called the best horror film of 2026 by many people–but is this true, or is the movie just overhyped?
The film, written and directed by Curry Baker, and starring Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston, is a 2026 supernatural, psychological horror movie that follows the chaos and tragedy a simple wish brings upon a group of close friends. Praised for its unapologetically disturbing imagery, heart-stopping jump-scares and nearly flawless plot, “Obsession” is not only a huge box-office success, but it has also earned near perfect Critic Review scores from the top media-rating websites like IMDb and RottenTomatoes.
I went to watch this film after much pestering from my horror-obsessed sister, but the reviews of the movie I saw online had as much a hand in my decision to watch it as her whining. After having watched the film, when answering the question “Is it good or is it overhyped?”, my answer is: yesn’t.
Do bear in mind that I am the biggest scaredy cat I know, so any horror movie is horrifying to me as is, but “Obsession” made my heart pound in a way no other film ever has. There were parts of the movie that I couldn’t bear to watch–hell, I even had my eyes covered for a good five minutes, and that, for me, is already a sign of an amazing horror movie. Buuuttt (because there’s always a but) as panic attack inducing the movie was for me, due to the excessive love this film received online, I had expected just a little bit more.
One thing that was undeniably perfect, however, was the performance from Inde Navarratte, who plays Nikki. Her acting was just as amazing as every critic made it out to be. From the tone of her voice to her erratic movements, Navarratte truly embodied the character of Nikki in a way I don’t think any other actor could have. She gave a hundred and twenty percent in every scene, and I am so incredibly happy that Obsession has given her the big-break she so obviously deserved.
As for the story line and dialogue–Curry Baker is an absolute genius. While the name “Obsession” initially gives you the idea that Nikki is the psycho lover, Baker masterfully creates a plot to show how twisted the true villain is, while maintaining Nikki’s innocence. His background in comedy really shines through in the way he writes character dialogue. Sometimes, it’s awkwardly funny, sometimes it’s so bone-chilling that it makes goosebumps rise on the back of your neck, and sometimes, the horror is so absurd that all you can do is laugh nervously. Truly, his writing of dialogue, and the way the actors read said lines, is phenomenal.
The other thing about the movie that I didn’t notice many people talk about but admired very much myself was the music. Horror movies often rely on musical scores and its vibrations to instill fear and create a more eerie atmosphere. Obsession is no exception. And this is where my dilemma of “is this good or over-hyped” comes to its peak. Since I watched the film in the theater with the volume and music at their peak, I could physically feel every vibration, so scenes that built up for jump scares and the jump scares themselves were very scary. However, I do think that if this film was watched on a regular device like a laptop or computer, it may not have had the same effect on an audience as it did in the theaters. This, coupled with the fact that my expectations for this movie reached the sun, might be the reason why I’m still unsure if it’s as good as reviews say, or just a little over-hyped.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the movie itself was fantastic, and it scared me in a way I haven’t been scared in a long time. Had I not gone in with such enormous expectations, I’m sure I’d be obsessed as well (all puns intended). But because of how extraordinary reviewers made it to be, I just expected a teeny bit more. All that being said, I think everyone should definitely go and watch this movie because it really is a very special film. From me, it gets a solid 8.5/10.
