Obsession

“I don’t like my dreams” holy fucking shit buckle up kids, this is gonna be another long one some things i haven’t seen discussed online as much that i think need more love besides the obvious ones: The cat parallels - i could genuinely go on all day about this, ‘nikki’ copying the mannerisms of a cat to try and appeal to bear, the themes of ownership associated with that, the fact bear is responsible for the death of sandy in the first place and then bear taking his own life in the same way as his cat because he believes himself to be the trapped victim when it’s the other way round. Sublime. The sound of silence - For large stretches of the film, there is no music entirely unless something needs a specific cue. Especially at the start, the score is silent unless something scary is happening, which conditions the audience in such a way that once the first jumpscare hits, you’re trapped in a constant state of panic until the credits roll. Music or no music, you can still be scared shitless. There’s none of the usual safety that can be found by preempting a scare when the music stops if there’s never any music. And the true horror of it all: I’ve met Bear. You probably have too. Bear isn’t some fantasy killer with a machete or fangs. Bear is your friend’s friend who thinks he’s owed a kiss for buying dinner, or the guy at the party who takes someone home after they’ve had one too many. Bear is insecure, cowardly and entitled, but he’s scary because he’s real. Men, don’t be a bear. Don’t be an Ian either though. Just be a good dude.