Obsession is a 2025 American supernatural horror film written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker. The movie follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a hopeless romantic who comes across a mysterious item called the One Wish Willow. After breaking the branch to win his crush's heart, he gets exactly what he asked for. This is a new twist on the monkey's paw premise.
I first heard about Obsession through Twitter/X. Everyone was talking about it and then when it came out, everyone seemed to love it. I saw memes and noticed that one of the main characters, Nikki, was Inde Navarrette. I knew her from Superman and Lois, so seeing her in a psychological horror had me curious.
What Is Obsession About?
The setup is classic wish gone wrong territory. Bear is a hopeless romantic, the kind of person who wants love badly enough to believe in something like the One Wish Willow. When he breaks the mysterious branch to win over his crush, the wish works, and he finds himself getting exactly what he asked for. The problem is that he doesn't realize what he wished for.
The film is not just about a supernatural curse. The curse is just the beginning, the movie is about a malfunctioning relationship, one that is instantly forged by the wish. The wish forces the romantic connection into existence, and the movie examines what happens when a relationship is toxic and when one starts on a foundation that was never real. It is a creepy concept because it touches on the fear of being loved for the wrong reasons.
Who Is Behind Obsession?
Curry Barker serves as the writer, director, and editor of the film. That level of control shows in the finished product, because the movie has a very specific vision and does not feel like it was filtered through a committee. Michael Johnston takes the lead role as Bear, and he carries the story as the hopeless romantic whose wish turns into a nightmare. Nikki is played by Inde Navarrette. She is the object of Bear's affection and the victim in all this. That is important to remember, despite what she does after the wish, she is not in control and is essentially trapped in her own mind. This comes to light a few times throughout the film.
Obsession Movie Details at a Glance
| Title | Obsession |
| Release year | 2025, with a wider rollout in 2026 |
| Genre | Supernatural horror |
| Director | Curry Barker |
| Writer | Curry Barker |
| Lead actor | Michael Johnston as Bear |
| Rating | R |
| Runtime | 1 hour 49 minutes |
Why Is Obsession Getting So Much Attention?
I have watched a lot of horror movies built around cursed wishes, and most of them rely on external consequences. A monster appears. A ghost haunts the house. The wish turns physical. Unlike the others, Obsession doesn't really do any of that, it gives Bear exactly what he wishes for, Nikki to love him more than she loves anyone else. The problem is that this makes her love him more than she loves herself. The psychological angle makes the scares feel personal in a way that stays with someone even after the credits roll.
What to Know Before Watching Obsession
The R rating and the 1 hour 49 minute runtime give the story room to build, and the direction from Curry Barker keeps the tone consistent throughout. The movie has moments that are grotesque and moments that are darkly funny.
The film commits to its premise. The One Wish Willow is not just a plot device that disappears after the first act. The consequences of breaking it drive the entire story, and the relationship at the center of the movie is allowed to build before it starts falling apart. What starts as a standard wish gone wrong setup turns into something more uncomfortable, a story about how love curdles into obsession when it is built on a lie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can the Obsession movie be streamed?
Obsession is streaming exclusively on Peacock as of the current release window. The movie is also listed on Google Play Movies for digital viewing on that platform. Since streaming availability can change, the official Peacock page and the Google Play listing are the best places to confirm the current options before watching.
Who stars in the Obsession movie?
Michael Johnston plays Bear, the hopeless romantic at the center of the story. Curry Barker wrote, directed, and edited the film, giving it a single creative vision from start to finish. The full supporting cast is not confirmed in the available reference materials, so the IMDb credits page is the right place to check for the complete cast list.
Is the Obsession movie rated R and how long is it?
Yes, Obsession carries an R rating, and the runtime is 1 hour and 49 minutes. The R rating reflects the horror content and the psychologically unsettling tone of the relationship at the center of the film. The runtime gives the story enough space to develop the wish concept and the consequences that follow.
Is Obsession actually scary?
Reviews describe Obsession as a creatively grotesque and at times darkly funny horror film that weaponizes romantic fantasy and turns it into something ugly and cruel. The scares come from the psychological tension of a relationship that was instantly forged by a supernatural wish, rather than relying only on jump scares or monster reveals.
Is Obsession based on a 2025 film or a newer release?
Obsession is a 2025 American supernatural horror film that received its wider distribution rollout in 2026. The production date and the release date both appear in different listings, which is why some pages say 2025 and others say 2026. The movie is the same Curry Barker film either way, now streaming on Peacock.
