Obsession

Every year, a film from nowhere comes out of the blue, and attracts not just the cinema going crowd, but the crowd who are into “popular films”, and usually its either good, not great, or really disappointing… Not this one. Obsession is absolutely spectacular. An indie triumph not really seen in a modern cinema climate, it’s incredibly dark, wickedly funny at times and a really interesting look and lesson on relationships. I’ve never really seen a plot like Obsession’s. What starts as a lustful young man’s attempt to convince his crush to get with him turns in to a terrifying and unpredictable turn of events. From the moment Bear snaps the branch, everything becomes more and more unsettling. His friend group physically fractures before our eyes as Nikki’s obsession to Bear becomes more severe. And it’s get really, really bad. Curry Barker clearly knows how to scare an audience, because there are some fantastic jump scares that aren’t even what you think they are going to be, at first. Despite that, the romantic/drama element of the film is really bittersweet, and the contrast of the idea of endless time and, well, the ending that lacks time is genius. This film looks gorgeous. Every frame belongs on a wall. The rich greens and blue illuminates not just the night setting, but the screen as well. The cinematography is outstanding, and some of these frames will be seen over and over again at time goes on. The film also felt like a perfect length. There was nothing that felt needed to be added, nor did it feel bloated in any way. It reminded me of Halloween, a simple and short film that packs a punch. Like previously mentioned, the ending contrasts the beginning with the idea of time. There was simply not enough time for Bear and Nikki, once she had used her wish, which is brutal. And a punch-in-the-gut reminder about the social danger of not telling people how you feel. It feels like a future classic, and an absolute landmark in cinema this decade.