Obsession

very interesting deconstruction of the modern expressions of misogyny. everyone is familiar w the "nice guy" complex, the idea that if a man is quiet, polite, and "invests" (whether it be effort, money, or infatuation) in a woman, he is owed romantic or sexual compliance. Bear is a less overt, shadow expression of this, as, rather than the more direct reasoning of "oh, I like this girl so much, she should fw me," it's more of him, viewing himself as a victim in this situation, simply because Nikki didn't naturally choose him DESPITE his efforts. so, when he used the willow, he views himself as correcting a wrong in the world rather than a violent, cruel act; decoupling his actions from reducing this woman that he allegedly loves into a hunk of meat only to be utilized as a vehicle for his desire. It's unsettling to me that he regards himself with pity throughout the entire movie, and that other people pity him as well. to me, bear lost all sympathy the moment he chose to continue after the first "glitch" happened. other nikki was also a pretty on-the-nose concept, too. no boundaries, no outside life, complete devotion, only existing to validate her partner, in other words, the distilled idea of "the perfect woman" #they are trying to push heavily into young minds. there is a deep discomfort with female agency these days- I know everyone has seen those tiktoks/reels where "if she's doing x she's cheating" or "if she at y, wrap it up." Currently that stuff is being viewed as minimal and jokey, but in reality they are still affecting the minds and thought processes of those that watch them. great movie; really enjoyed it.