The best horror films manage to create a genuine sense of dread and hair-raising fear by giving the audience stuff they don't fully comprehend. A little bit of ambiguity and unseen mystery delivers a more thrilling effect than well-choreographed or cleverly creative jump scares. That's exactly what makes Indie horror films so effective and Obsession, is the absolute, near-perfect example of an Indie horror film getting the sense of surprise, bang on. This film forces the viewer to question what really is true love and how indistinguishable it can be from rabid obsessiveness. True love and obsession both require rampant dedication but it can be very difficult to tell the actions of each apart. In director Curry Barker's low budget but highly inventive film, the lines blur to create a sense of nerve-wracking fear as you watch a young girl love a guy as if in a tooth and nail fight. Heck, watching the film's lead 'freaky Nikki' played masterfully by Inde Navarrette, scuttle and jerk around in manic, bloody devotion is extremely unsettling. The performance here is so good that it literally becomes the force and impact of the film.
Nikki goes nuts in love and Inde unpacks a range of such gruesome emotions and actions that the faint of heart will swear to never fall in love ever again. But those brave enough to endure gore and grizzly action will still be unnerved by Nikki's helpless manic fever. The best part is, Inde's Nikki needs to prosthetics, make-up or fancy CGI tricks to send a chill down your spine. She does it with crazy facial expressions, masterful lighting and inspired camera work.
A helpless Bear (Michael Johnston) endures Nikki's haunting obsession and he quite literally becomes a mirror for the audience. His disbelief and horror encapsulate the exact feeling that you get while watching the events of Obsession's screenplay unfold. Necessity is the mother of invention and you see that fact in all its glory in films that have wafer-thin budgets. The magic of that sentiment is on display in full glory in Obsession. This film uses clever lighting, camera tricks and unhinged performances to create a grip of emotions and fear on its audience. As a viewer, you're constantly fearing the unpredictable nature of Nikki's behaviour and preparing for the worse. And remarkably, the film serves up exactly what you're expecting but in totally unimaginable ways.
Watch Obsession on the big screen and you will have an anxiety overload. The experience of watching this film is the equivalent of riding a high speed rollercoaster and enjoying the absolute, torturous thrill. The fear will make you clench the nearest railing, chair arm or forearm and make the hair on your nape dance like it's possessed. Inde Navarrette, Curry Barker and Michael Johnston, please take a bow.
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