Displaying items by tag: Michael Johnston

OBSESSION

US, 2026, 108 minutes, Colour.

Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless.

Directed by Curry Barker.

Emotional and sexual obsession has been a constant theme in moviemaking. In more recent times, it has become part of popular horror films like Companion.

However, this film has a different perspective. It is significant that the writer-director, Curry Barker, made this film in his mid-20s. And in the mid-2020s. And it is a film highlighting weird relationships rather than being a slasher or gory horror film (though it has one moment when audiences will leap from their seats, an extremely gory moment, but more of an exception in the way this story is told).

The film has had an immediate appeal, witnessed by box office results, in the demographic of audiences who can identify with the central characters in age, experience and outlook. And it has appealed to the critics. Which means, then, that there may not be immediate connections with the characters by older audiences (from over 30 onwards). The central character, Baron, nicknamed Bear, played intensely by Michael Johnston, lacks a lot of self-confidence, has morose moments, is pushed forward by his best friend, Cooper Tomlinson (who has long worked with the director on a You-Tube comedy series). And he is infatuated with his music shop co-worker, Nikki. She is played inventively by Inde Navarette, pleasantly ordinary and charming at first but then transformed when desperate Bear buys her a gift at a novelty shop, the Wish Willow, which can grant what everyone wants. And Bear wishes that Nikki would like him more than anyone, anything else. Moral: Beware what you wish for.

And, that is the drama, his creating a violent monster, unrestrained, controlling, and Bear’s desperate wanting to reverse his wish, rebuffed by the phone call to the complaints department, being told that his or her death will be the only way of release.

Audiences, young and old, will become more absorbed in the drama the more possessive and dominating Nikki becomes – and, no easy solution for this kind of horror drama.

1. The title? Beware of what you wish for?
2. The American setting, the young adults, working in the music school, friends, sexual relationships? Social life, parties? The writer-director, mid-twenties and perspective on life?
3. The situation, the focus on Baron, nickname Bear, age, at home, quiet, shy and awkward, working in the shop, friendships, relying on Ian for advice? The outings, his withdrawal? The relationship with Nikki, the attraction, driving her home?
4. Exasperation with himself, going to the novelty shop, buying the Willow Wish, his wish for Nicky to love him more than anything? Her appearance, transformation, in the bedroom, the sexual relationship, the violence, the effect on Bear, her taping the door, his going to work, his cat, the death, her making the sandwich and his reaction? Interactions at home, the conversations, her possessive behaviour, violent and erratic?
5. Nicky, originally, pleasant, attraction to Bear, his reticence, her invitations? The transformation, her alter ego, opening, violent, sexual, obsessive, demanding? The behaviour, with Bear, the cat, the sandwich, at night, standing and watching Bear? The relationship with Sarah, Sarah in the car, the brutality of Nikki bashing her head? The body of Sarah in the house? The truth about Nikki and the relationship with Ian? Ian coming to the house, the shooting him?
6. Bear, the bewilderment, Ian inviting him to the party, Nikki not to come, her arrival, the behaviour, the game, the kiss, Sarah, the incestuous story of Hansel and Gretel, reactions?
7. Bear, phoning about the Wish Willow, the complaint, the eerie response, the threat of death? Going back, buying the final Wish Willows? The reaction of those in the shop?
8. Ian, Bear wanting him to reverse wish, Ian’s wish for money, its falling from the roof? Then his death?
9. Bear, taking the overdose, regretting it, going through to his death, to release Nikki? The final wish? His dying and Nikki returning to normal…?