“Obsession” has created waves since its release in mid-May, and rightfully so. The film is downright horrifying in every way that a horror film should be. The story follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, and his relationship with his friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, after Bear makes a wish.

While the premise is innocent-sounding enough, the film is not. “Obsession” contains themes and messages all around consent, control and well, obsession. The film uses its premise to explore what some toxic men really want from the women in their lives. The themes explored within the film are handled with care, and the final result is a haunting message that lands extremely well.

Navarrette’s performance as Nikki is absolutely outstanding. The range required for the character is intense, and Navarrette hits every single mark and more. Without a doubt she deserves an Oscar for her work in “Obsession.” Whether or not that recognition will come, time will tell. But nomination or not, Navarrette’s acting career will no doubt explode in the years to come.

The other actors in “Obsession” also give wonderful performances in their own right. Johnston does a fantastic job in his performance as Bear, portraying a very pathetic man who feels very real. Equally, nearly every character in the film feels remarkably authentic, outside of post-wish Nikki, whose transformation is central to the film’s horror.

Cooper Tomlinson and Megan Lawless both play friends within Nikki and Bear’s friend group with Tomlinson’s character, Ian, feeling like your classic frat bro, and Lawless’s character being a passionate art student.

Curry Barker, a 26-year-old who got his start making a comedy sketch show on YouTube and helping create multiple short films, wrote and directed “Obsession.” Barker’s success with “Obsession” is proof that any passionate creator can succeed if they hone their craft and keep trying.

Calling “Obsession” a success would be an understatement. The film had a budget of only $750,000 and has made well over $100 million at the box office since its release. The film has also sparked discussion all over social media with videos discussing it gaining millions of views.

“Obsession” is easily the most horrifying film I’ve seen in a long time. It had my skin crawling almost the entire runtime, exactly like a horror movie should. The film is an absolute roller coaster that anyone, even a little bit into horror films, should definitely check out if they haven’t already. Just be ready for a very wild ride.