Be Careful What You Wish For

Written and directed by Curry Barker, Obsession also stars Michael Johnston as Bear, an affable music store worker who frequently hangs out with his friends and fellow employees, Nikki, Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) and Sarah (Megan Lawless). Bear, however, has long had a huge crush on Nikki, but can’t muster the courage to reveal his true feelings for her.

However, when Nikki tells Bear that she’s going to leave town in a couple of weeks to start a new life, he realizes that it’s now or never to express himself, and he buys her a going-away gift, a novelty item called a “One Wish Willow.”

Getting the feeling that Nikki is going to leave him in “the friend zone,” Bear opens the item and breaks the stick inside of it, wishing that Nikki would love him more than anyone in the world.

Mere minutes later, Nikki’s behavior suddenly shifts and she shows him the sort of affection he was hoping for. Before too long, however, the romantic spell Nikki is under turns into possessive, obsessive and eventually, deadly behavior, which quickly spirals out of control.

Obsession first took hold of audiences at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where the response to it was so overwhelming that Focus Features and Blumhouse acquired Barker’s $1 million film — you read that right, the film had a production budget of $1 million — for about $15 million.

It became instantly clear that Focus Features’ investment was going to pay off in Obsession’s opening frame at the domestic box office. Not only did the film make $17.2 million from 2,615 North American theaters from May 15-17 for a third-place finish, but it was also the top-earning film at the domestic box office from May 18-20.

Through Thursday, Obsession has earned nearly $30.3 million in domestic ticket sales and $7.6 million internationally for a week one worldwide box office tally of $37.9 million.

‘Obsession’ Is Getting People Talking After The Credits Roll

The brilliance of Obsession is that the film is textured with complex characters and scenarios, featuring an already daunting atmosphere that is enhanced further by its dialogue, direction and acting that leaves most movies in the horror film genre in the dust.

Perhaps the reason Obsession is so successful out of the gate is that the film is rooted in a relatable scenario (who hasn’t had a crush?) and audiences are seeing that scenario playing out in ways they never could have imagined.

As such, Obsession has started a discourse online of who is the victim and who is the villain in the film. While Bear is at first taken aback by Nikki’s sudden romantic interest in him and staves off her advances, he eventually gives in to his impulses and enters a full-fledged relationship with her. So, even while Nikki becomes unhinged and her actions are increasingly horrific — which obviously can be construed as villainous — there’s no question that ultimately, she is being victimized.

“Whenever I first read the script, I thought that it was written beautifully to understand why Bear made the wish that he made and to also understand that his intention impacted Nikki in a way that he didn’t intend at first,” Inde Navarrette recalled. “He made a wish and had no idea if it was going to work and it came true.”

Making the situation more horrifying is how Navarrette worked with Barker to show how the real Nikki in her subconscious is trying to break through the torturous spell, if only for a few seconds at a time.

“Her experience is extremely valid because of the fact that she has no say, right? He made a wish and had no idea that it was going to work, and it came true, but she had no choice anymore. She’s not a person,” Navarrette said. “She has no bodily autonomy. [Imagine how] terrifying it would be to watch your life being lived through your own eyes and you have no control over it. I think the loss of control is extremely horrific.”

So, while Bear’s intentions aren’t evil, Navarrate said, the fact that he can see what the wish has done to Nikki — yet he proceeds with the relationship — makes him a villain.

“I think it’s interesting to play with this idea of who’s a villain and who’s not a villain when you become your actions might not be evil,” Navarrette said. “There's a moment in the movie where Bear is very clearly aware of the fact that she has no control. She can't really consent to anything that's happening and he still chooses to be with her.”

‘Obsession’ Is Inde Navarrette’s First Horror Film

After making her screen debut in the 2019 in the Snap comedy series Denton’s Death Date (based on the Denton Little YA books), Inde Navarrette landed roles in mystery thriller feature Wander Darkly and the Netflix psychological drama 13 Reasons Why — both in 2020 — followed by roles in the CW superhero series Superman & Lois from 2021 to 2024, and the action thriller Trap House in 2025.

In Superman & Lois, Navarrette starred as Sarah Cushing — the daughter of Superman/Clark Kent’s (Tyler Hoechlin) longtime friend Lana Lang (Emmanuelle Chriqui) — in 47 of the series’ 53 episodes. Apart from playing Sarah, Navarrette used her time working on the series to educate herself about the acting craft.

“I treated Superman & Lois like college because it was a different director each episode,” Navarrette recalled. “So, I got to learn so much in those four years. That was my college experience.”

While Navarrette is a fan of horror, Obsession marks her first turn in the genre. The decision to do the film wasn’t about her affinity for horror material, necessarily, but more about how far she could stretch her acting range.

“What I learned on Obsession was kind of a sports mentality of really challenging myself and doing something completely different that I had never done before,” Navarrette said. “I had fun while I was doing it and am really proud of what I was able to do.”

Perhaps the greatest thing Navarrette took from playing Nikki in Obsession is confidence, which she knows will be invaluable as she takes on future roles.

“Anytime that I feel any doubt coming on, I can just remember what I did on Obsession and know that I’m capable of a lot more than I thought that I was,” Navarrette explained, humbly. “I think that pride will carry on to all the things that I’m getting. I think you should be really proud of a body of work where you tried your hardest.”

Rated R, Obsession is playing in theaters nationwide.

Note: Some quotes in this article were edited or condensed for clarity.