Review of Obsession

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:08]Welcome to the Jeremy and Andy Top Movies podcast. I'm Jeremy.

[00:00:11]>> I'm Andy or Freaky Andy as I used to be called.

[00:00:16]>> Yeah. I've heard that was a popular nickname of yours back in the day.

[00:00:20]>> Back in the day.

[00:00:21]>> Yeah. And I'm sure you loved it. So >> I loved it. Yeah.

[00:00:25]Uh Andy, you know, I there's no there's no real subtle way to ask this, so I'm just going to ask it uh straight up. I mean, it's the it sounds way weirder coming out as I say it. Uh if you had one wish and you were afraid that wish wasn't going to go over well, right? What wish do you think you could wish for that you there's no there's no weird way that it could be taken? You're like, I feel pretty safe with this wish. Uh just I think that we just did this podcast forever until the end of time probably.

[00:00:55]I don't see how that could backfire.

[00:00:58]>> Yeah. No way. Uh yeah. What happens in that in that sick alternate world is movie theaters like or movie companies come out and say uh we just announced we're ending all movies. Everything will be a part of the Madam Web franchise from now on. That's it. That's the only movies we're making and we're cursed to cover it for the rest of time.

[00:01:16]>> That's exactly what would happen to me.

[00:01:20]So, this week on the episode, we are talking about the new horror movie Obsession, which of course centers around a similar premise, you know, wishes gone arry. Um, so I we're going to have a lot to talk about, I think, with this movie.

[00:01:34]>> Yeah.

[00:01:34]>> So, we're just going to get right into it here. I'm going to give a quick summary for those who aren't in the know, and then we'll talk about our just sort of immediate reactions to this movie. So, Bear, that's the name of our main character, has a long-standing crush on his friend Nikki, but can never find the confidence to tell her how he feels. One night, after failing yet again to communicate that with her, he flippantly makes a wish using a magical wishing Willow that Nikki would love him more than anybody else in the world. To his shock, the wish works, but immediately proves to be a perverse version of his of his desire as Nikki changes into a psychopathic, obsessed version of her that is unrecognizable and terrifying.

[00:02:16]Andy, >> yeah, >> obsession's gotten a lot of hype.

[00:02:20]Did it live up to it?

[00:02:23]>> So, uh, you, since you're the boss, I'm going to let you make a decision here.

[00:02:27]I've got three big thoughts about this movie. I can just spew all three of them real quick or we can just kind of roll them out as we go. It's up to you.

[00:02:36]>> I'm Let's roll them out one at a time. I I'm I'm excited for this, Andy. I want to just be able to digest as they come.

[00:02:42]So, >> okay. Thought thought number one. This is the best movie of the year.

[00:02:47]>> Okay.

[00:02:48]>> I thought this was incredible. I think it deserves every bit of buzz it's getting and that I'm seeing and the Tik Toks and the Instagrams and people are already debating it and it's worth every second of that time people are giving it. I thought this was phenomenal.

[00:03:04]>> Okay. All right. I had a feeling that you were going to really like this movie, Andy.

[00:03:09]>> I love this movie.

[00:03:10]>> Yeah, I'm still a little undecided exactly how I feel. Uh, and by that I mean this I've been trying to decide was this a home run or was this a really impressive pop out to Deep Center Field?

[00:03:23]Like either way I'm impressed with what this film does. I'm just not sure about it's like is it actually great or is it just close to great is what I'm trying to decide between. And we'll get into some of the reasons why and like what the particulars are. But, uh, I'm with you though that this was I'm a really good movie to see and a movie I'm really excited to talk about and I have a feeling it's going to be one of those movies that as I talk about it, it's going to clarify my feelings on it.

[00:03:52]>> All right.

[00:03:53]>> All right. So, uh, I don't know if you want me to get into some more of my thoughts or if you're you want to talk more about what it is that you loved about this movie first.

[00:04:03]>> It's your call, man.

[00:04:05]>> Yeah. I want you go ahead. I want this I want you to take front and center on this one.

[00:04:09]Yeah. So, I guess all movies can do this, but I think horror has a really special ability to take something that we've seen, you know, this is obviously not an original concept. This is the be careful what you wish for movie kind of combined with something like a fatal attraction or even like a misery or something. You know, the crazy female, you know, antagonist. We've seen all this before, but this is just done so well and and so unique and and I I'll hold back some major thoughts till we get into spoilers, but um just I don't know, man. I just thought this was so well written. Um I know we're going to talk about the the main performance from Indie Navaretti, I believe is how you say her name. Um so well directed.

[00:04:57]Uh just the the tension of course the use of shadows in this movie is so incredible.

[00:05:05]I thought um this movie had a just a fantastic like you kind of understand what some of the beats are going to be just because this is you know like we know how these careful what you wish for movies go but yet at the same time this had just a fantastic I never really knew where this was going. Um, I I think a major decision that was made in this movie, it's really not a huge spoiler, I think it's okay to talk about, that I thought worked really well, was that in this world that is created by writer director Curry Barker, it's just accepted that this thing, the what is it called? The the we the >> the wishing willow.

[00:05:44]>> The wishing willow. it just works and people know it works and it's just kind of like it's just matter of fact where they're like yep it works. I thought that was really well done cuz we always say like we don't care. I don't care what the rules are in the universe. I don't care if a movie is far out. Just pick your rules and stick to them and and believe in the rules that you set and you know check there. Um I don't know. Just everything about this movie, Jeremy, I thought worked. Yeah, I'm going to agree with you on on several points. Um, I do think that this is we got to talk about this. We usually talk about this towards the end of the episode, but it's just such an important thing in this movie is that this movie was made for so little money that this was under a million dollars, which first off is always just impressive that you can get a movie that can be a theatrical release movie for under that amount of money. It's insane.

[00:06:36]But we we talk about this all the time with Jaws and with other things that it a lot of times necessity is the mother of invention and the creativity is you know they don't have a lot of budget. So how do we build an atmosphere and how do we build tension and we got to do it with a lot of like yeah just the way we shoot it the way we use shadows like you said the creepy movements and all of that stuff. They don't just have a giant CGI budget to do creepy things or something like that. So, it's all very small but very intimate because of the budget. I think forced them to be very creative in this movie.

[00:07:11]>> Absolutely. There's so few locations in this movie. So few locations. I mean, there's the, you know, his car outside of Nikki's house, his house, his grandmother's house or whatever that situation is, the party, uh, the place they work at. I mean, there's there's just a handful of locations. And um yeah, just like Jaws, even though these two the two movies are of course very different, talk about just getting the most out of the least.

[00:07:39]Like I think I just already have such an admiration for this just and how it's like Nikki standing in a dark corner of a room. Just how much fear and tension and just terror they get out of that is really really impressive.

[00:07:56]>> Yeah. Uh, I should say that this is a this is an uncomfortable movie. If you are not a fan of horror movies that makes you feel just like uncomfortable, you may this may not be the one for you.

[00:08:11]And that's really maybe the thing that stood out the most to me about this movie is, and you know what, let's go ahead. I don't know if you have anything else you really want to get out before we go. spoiler warnings, but I just want to start getting into some things that this is the kind of movie where it's like again, go in hearing as little as you can and have as much of it be a surprise as possible. Um, so, you know, spoiler warning, we're issuing that right now. Um, and this isn't too spoilery, but just the fact that most movies like you talk about, it's not an original idea to have the be careful what you wish for premise, but most movies when it's when they do that, they at least will play for a little while like the wish is going like it's supposed to, and then it like slowly reveals itself to be like, uhoh, there's something wrong or off with this. This one is like as soon as the wish starts working, like which is immediate, it's odd immediately. It's unsettling the way she starts acting and the main character like kind of recognize it which he's an awkward guy anyways. But he's just like, you know, you're you're being kind of weird and like I don't even know if I actually like this like right from the beginning and then it just goes up and up from there. So you don't have the normal like everything's fine honeymoon period. It's just weird and uncomfortable almost immediately >> instantly. I I mean it h he makes the wish when he drops her off at her house.

[00:09:24]She goes inside, he makes the wish. She comes back out and they just have two or three minutes of the most awkward, uncomfortable Yeah. And it's incredible. Um, so that's one of the big things too that I have such an admiration for about this movie since we're into spoilers is um the decision made by Curry Barker to have Nikki kind of under the spell or whatever you want to call it of this wish. But then the real horror of this movie is that there's also a part of Nikki or her I don't know however you want to read it who is aware that she is trapped in this situation which just adds a total extra layer of just horror and terror. And then you also have the um the other thing I thought was so great now that I can talk about in spoilers is that the courage it takes to write the bear character who is just a spineless coward who gets this poor girl in this nightmare situation and does not have the guts to try and get her out of it cuz he's just such a loser. Like it's really incredible. It's such a risk. It's such a swing. And you know, we've talked before about movies that take the swing and it doesn't work.

[00:10:38]To me, this this all worked so phenomenally well.

[00:10:42]>> Yeah. So, uh, you're right that the part where it's revealed that she's still under there and that like when she's sleeping, she kind of sleep talks to him and and reveals like real like she and I think he refers to like she's sleeping right now. It's me. It's actually me right now. And and she just says, "Please just kill Like it's so bad being trapped in here. Just kill me.

[00:11:05]>> Oh man, that's brutal.

[00:11:08]>> And uh little bit of a get out vibes in that way, you know, get out. Uh cuz people get their conscious take over.

[00:11:14]They go into like the deep place or whatever. And there's that moment with uh Leis Stanfield where somebody takes a photograph and it snaps him out of it and he's like get out, you know. And uh so I had, you know, that called to mind that for me when we had that scene. is like, "Oh, this is like somebody trapped under, you know, that deep place and still there and wanting to get out." Um, yeah, that was and and you're right. So, the the lead character, this is one of my things I'm struggling with with the movie is they this is actually what I wrote my notes. They probably made him a little too realistic because I'm sitting there going like this guy's he is You're right. He's a spineless coward. That's true. But he's kind of nice. He's kind of like, well, he's just kind of a little bit of a dopey guy. And he he's almost admirable in that he's almost immediately like, I don't really like this, you know? I don't trust something's wrong with the fact that this wish is working, you know? I mean, like, he still goes with it probably longer than he should, but he's still he knows something's wrong about it off, but it's almost like he's reacting so realistically, it's less interesting. And it just kind of makes you realize like movies sometimes they have to take those stronger stance to get a more, you know, make him really likable and I feel bad for him or make him dislikable so I go like, "Oh, this guy's the worst." But he's kind of just floating in between. I'm like, I don't know what I'm rooting for with this guy.

[00:12:35]And you know what? That's good writing and it's also a struggle for me.

[00:12:42]>> No. And and I get it. I mean in any I mean kind of another spoiler for later in the podcast but reviews are overwhelmingly positive but anything I have seen negative or just kind of like the online like this character is really getting people riled up the bear character and and maybe that was the intention but like I do understand that argument. I do. Um, I think my biggest thing that makes me feel good about this movie is my biggest worry with any movie like this, you know, horror movies, um, is when you have to go along for this really long ride with someone and you're just like, dude, obviously this is a bad situation. So, I think I would rather them write a character who, like you said, who you're like, wait, do I like this guy? Is this guy despicable?

[00:13:28]I don't know. I would rather have this kind of morally ambiguous character than have just some [ __ ] who's like, "Oh, everything's fine." You know, and then it it takes everything going as wrong as it does towards the end of this movie for him to finally be like, "Oh, you know what? Maybe this didn't work out so well." Like, I'd rather have this complicated character who does know almost right away that this is bad and still kind of rides the wave because he's kind of a good person but also kind of not. Personally, that's what I'd rather have.

[00:13:58]>> Yeah. I mean, going back to that scene that the more I think about is probably the pivotal scene of the movie is the Nikki character asleep in the bed and the real Nikki talking and saying, you know, just kill me. It's me, you know. Oh, now this. And the our main character, Bear, is you could tell he's kind of hurt that that's her response.

[00:14:19]And he says to her like, "What's so bad about being with me?" And that's where you can see he's having that moral dilemma. And that's where it's like he's a complex character, but that's really the one that leaves me frozen where it's like, do I feel almost a little empathy for this guy that he's going like, wow, this girl in my dreams is literally saying, "Hey, kill me. It's so bad being stuck in this state where I have to be in love with you or, you know, is he the worst?" Because as he's hearing her plea, all he can think about is how this affects me. And that's probably the reality. That's that he is just the worst. But it's just such an important scene for telling you what's really going on in the movie is that she's stuck, doesn't want to be doing this, but has happened to. He just got faced with that reality, but it just hurts too much to like accept that. And he's kind of like, because you offended me, I I almost don't want to let you go. That was just mean.

[00:15:09]>> Yeah. And and that's again another layer of why I like this movie so much because I think it works just as an effective be careful what you wish for horror movie and then there are these deeper layers and I think I don't know this but it definitely feels like Curry Barker and and everybody they are trying to tap into something about guys and you know loneliness and inability to connect with a woman maybe and how far would you you know is it better to be miserable and with somebody or miserable and alone and you there there a lot of things to just think about and contemplate and and I always appreciate that and it doesn't it does it in a way where it doesn't feel like it's heavy-handed or beating me over the head with it, you know, like we've talked about with some movies where you're like, I get it like obviously this is what you're trying to say. I think there's a nice um I don't know if subtle is the right word when it comes to this movie, but just just a lot of interesting layers to peel back in this movie.

[00:16:06]>> Yeah, it is. Um, okay. Let's see. Are there are there more things that you wanted to like are you still on your list of big things to to talk about?

[00:16:18]>> I I can drop my second thing on you, which is not a real shocker, but uh my second thing is I think that um you know, Freaky Nikki after this movie is just an instant horror icon. I I mean that's not a hot take or anything, but I think this Nikki character belongs on the same conversation as [ __ ] Spacic and Car or you know Carrie and and Carrie played by [ __ ] Spacic or Annie Wilson Misery or Glattis and Weapons or any whatever great female horror character comes to mind. I think Nikki almost instantly deserves to be right up there after this movie. I'm yeah I'm curious to see if it'll happen though because you know what character it kind of reminded me of which doesn't really quite have that cultural relevance but yet is out there in the culture. It reminds me of Pearl from of course the X trilogy but the Pearl installment specifically. Uh and again not like oh these are apples to apples characters or anything but just kind of a similar vibe really good performance.

[00:17:19]uh sort of a commonality in the ending where Pearl ends with like the prolonged awkward smile and this one ends with a prolonged screaming and terrified, you know, reaction. Uh but yeah, it gave me Pearl vibes and I really do mean that complimentary because I thought Pearl was like a you know, I watched that and I said, "Oh, you know, u plays Pearl." I was like, "She's going to be a star."

[00:17:42]Like this is really good. And >> yeah, Mia Goth.

[00:17:44]>> Mia Goth. Yeah. And part of that, I think Mia Goth just likes to choose interesting, weird projects and maybe that's part of why she hasn't become a bigger star. But I just kind of wondered like is this girl going to be Mia Goth or is she going to be, you know, like you said, maybe one of these bigger names.

[00:17:59]>> I mean that that's just I'm just going with my gut on this, you know, and and uh funny you said that because I did see an interview with the director and the cast and he had them all watch Pearl together to prepare for this movie.

[00:18:10]>> Look at me knowing things without knowing them. Look at you picking up on things. You must like movies.

[00:18:19]>> I must.

[00:18:20]>> I just think I I and I and look, I I'm not I don't let Tik Tok or anything influence how I feel about a movie, but I do like to see what I see on Tik Tok about a movie after I watch it. And I'm just just, you know, basing this mostly off my own opinion, but then just also the online buzz and just the things I'm seeing about Nikki. And then just the the writing of this movie, the things that they have her do you again right now I'm just talking about the character of Nikki and it's like just phenomenal phenomenal job and and Nikki the character gets to me what is the kill of the year so far in movies um later in the movie just a phenomenal scene that whole it goes from that stress that you're talking about where they're laying in bed together and he gets a text on his phone and you see that it's from Sarah I I think the other character's name is. So, it's just immediately you're like, "Oh, no. This is bad. This is bad for Bear." And the tension. He goes and meets with Sarah.

[00:19:19]They're having a conversation. I have seen enough in movies, Jeremy, to know that at any time that Nikki was going to come bursting through that window. She does. And it still scared the crap out of me. And then what follows I won't reveal on here because I want people to see it is just like your jaws kind of on the floor and you're just going, "Holy crap, what just happened?" And it just the payoff the payoff and the the sorry the setup and the payoff is just makes for the death scene of the year to me so far.

[00:19:49]>> Yeah, you're probably right. Although I'm sitting there trying to think like I'm sure if I really thought through it, I'd come up with what maybe is even its competition. But uh I will say that moment did remind me a little bit of weapons. There's a certain scene in weapons that reminded me of and ending image. Uh and again when I say these things I'm not saying in any way to take away because we all we both know we love weapons for one thing. Um but uh but yeah it was it was an an effective scene like as far as the scare and the like oh my gosh. and um was finally the moment that I think in the movie, I mean, rightly so, pushes Bear over the edge.

[00:20:34]He's he's kind of witnessed and endured a lot of crazy. And it's almost you're almost that point in the movie where you couldn't accept the guy if he kept putting up with the stuff and then it just jumped so far over the line that you're like, "Well, buddy, now it's time to really do something."

[00:20:50]>> Yes, absolutely. Also, that scene just gave us a great little a little uh smidge of I think what was meant to be just dark comedy. So, after Nikki commits this really horrific murder, Bear is just kind of frozen and obviously freaked out and she goes over to him and she's like comforting him and patting his head and she keeps going, "This is all your fault." But like in this really sweet voice and I'm like, they had to have played that for a laugh. Molly and I both laughed at that part. I saw this with my daughter Molly and um I just thought that was just a nice little touch.

[00:21:22]>> Yeah. Well, I hope I'm not uh jumping the gun on anything you want to talk about. But you talk about that humor because there is humor laced throughout this movie. Even though it's a deeply unsettling and like tensionfilled movie, there's a lot of humor. And the guy who wrote and directed it, Curry Barker, uh does a lot of funny stuff on social media. And that's how I was introduced to him. He and the sort of second main male lead uh Ian in the movie played by Cooper Tomlinson. Him and Curry Barker do a lot of videos together. Usually Cooper's playing the straight man and Curry's always playing this really, you know, eccentric character and one of like his videos are always stuff like he's the guy who doesn't understand things aren't always literal and so he takes things too literally and way too far and over the top about it. Uh, but it just again we we keep saying having to say this in the podcast over and over again. There is such a strong pipeline right now of comedy to horror and it does I think a lot of times these comedy guys it's like even if they're not trying to be funny in their horror movie, they just can't help the fact that they're really good at crafting situations that are kind of funny like that. Like it still blows my mind that Zack Kger says that he didn't intentionally write anything funny in Weapons and yet Weapons is a hilarious movie. It's like he just couldn't help but make things that are funny. And I think that's probably the same with Curry Barker here.

[00:22:44]>> Absolutely. And it's like you said, it's just incredible that we keep having to bring this point up on this podcast that this really effective horror movie came from a guy who got his start doing like YouTube sketch comedy. It's It's really unbelievable how comedians are thriving in horror right now. I look, if I'm Sinbad, I I'm gonna write like a new Halloween reboot or something like Strike While the Iron is Hot because I know you would go see Sinbad's Halloween.

[00:23:16]>> Oh man, opening night. Are you kidding?

[00:23:18]Oh, >> yeah. Absolutely. No, it's it's just really incredible that this keeps happening. It it's truly truly fascinating. You know, people say, they used to say anyways all the time, uh, it was kind of like a common trope or try thing to say that comedy is actually the hardest form of acting. You know, trying to be funny and that sort of thing. Like anybody could be serious and dramatic, but being funny is like the hardest thing. Um, and maybe that's true, maybe it's not. But I will say you watch these guys who do like these sketch comedy things and it's amazing how often they can transition and do any kind of acting you know like uh so you know not just talking about Curry Barker as a writer and director. It was funny watching Cooper his friend playing this character and at first I was wondering like is this going to be really distracting? is going to be like, "Hey, I put my comedy buddy in this movie and it's just going to be." But he actually like did a really good job and I thought hit every note he needed to where he's like believable as the best friend, but also a little bit of a you know, a little bit of a of a dag maybe and uh you know, every just everything about it was kind of hit the perfect note.

[00:24:25]>> It does. And and that just lends to something else I thought was great about this movie is that nobody's written to be just a great like these these are flawed people. Like this is a flawed friend group. Like they he does such a good job of world building just by being at this what is it started as like a party or something all together and you just or they're at a bar or whatever but you know they like kind of make fun of a trivia night.

[00:24:50]>> Yeah. They just do these things together and you're like, "Oh, okay. I kind of get who these people are without the movie having to spend a whole lot of time on them." But yeah, Cooper Tomlinson does a great job. And also, I mean, big spoiler, we're already into him, but like he has an awesome death scene, too. And kind of for the opposite reason of the previous death scene we were talking about, his is just very quick and out of nowhere. And I thought that was really well done, too.

[00:25:16]>> Yeah, I thought that that was a really interesting decision.

[00:25:20]uh to literally like never even show him in focus, you know, like the story. I mean, like it was one of those like here's your focus is our protagonist and Nikki, you know, Bear and Nikki, and his friend's going to walk through the door in the background and start talking.

[00:25:36]He's going to get shot. It's a big moment and we're literally not going to ever like show him close. We're not It's just literally he walks in, background, shot, gone. That's it. Like out of the story. Yeah, it was it was a definitely a decision, but I thought it was just it was just crafted really well and it, you know, it kind of made me and Molly both just oh my gosh, you know, just a little bit and that that all that tension in the last couple minutes of that movie is just incredible, I thought.

[00:26:02]>> So, we've This is one of those hard movies to talk about because it's so hard not to go right to the ending because it's such big stuff at the end.

[00:26:12]Um, there's a lot of good stuff building up to that and we don't have to go through all of it, but I really want to talk about I don't know if it's uh Andy's acting or the way it was shot or what the creepy movements I referenced earlier and like how you build tension.

[00:26:30]So, there's the one scene where they were in bed and he's asleep, but he wakes up and he's like looking around for her and you don't even see like I couldn't see her at first because she's standing in a dark corner and she like kind of steps forward. She's like I just like watching you sleep. But then the way she like retracts back to the corner was one of those things where I was like, did they It kind of looked like one of those things where they like film it in reverse and then play it backwards or something for the creepy movements.

[00:26:54]But it was just she does that a couple times. These creepy movements that are really effective. Yeah, this is this is segus well into my third point which is not any kind of hot take but uh my third big thing is that Indie Nav Ready just gives a generationally good performance in this movie and I don't know if generationally good is the right word but what I mean is like you mark my words like 10 15 years from now when someone gets to part in a horror movie they're going to do an interview with somebody and say oh I was channeling Indian Avaretti's performance and in Obsession like I think this will be talked about for a long time to come. I think in light of recent events, um Amy Madigan winning the Oscar for weapons, I don't think it's out of the question that she could get an Oscar nomination.

[00:27:41]I'm not saying it's going to happen, but two or even three or four years ago, it wouldn't even have been a discussion.

[00:27:46]And now I think it's at least a discussion. And if she did, to me, it wouldn't be ridiculous at all. the things that she does both physically and just acting wise, voice-wise, space-wise, everything is just truly incredible. And my my favorite Nikki moment, my favorite acting by Indie Navetti or the thing she does that's most impressive is when she literally looks like she's being rewound on tape.

[00:28:10]Like when she goes backwards and like that's incredible. That that was so scary. I thought that was so so good.

[00:28:18]Yeah, it was the type of type of acting you're like, I wonder how many times the guy playing bear, which his name is Michael Johnston. We probably should have said that at some point. And he does a good job because he's doing the thing, the thankless job of is as the protagonist of the movie, he's kind of got to be the blank slate. And, you know, he's he's very quiet and timid.

[00:28:37]He's not going to look very impressive.

[00:28:39]He doesn't do very much, but he's the whole movie is focused on him and his perspective. So, he's got to be, you know, it makes me think of the the part of Oceans 11 where they're talking to Matt Damon about how to how to be the guy who, you know, talks someone. He's like, you got to be uh likable but instantly forgettable. You know, that's that's what you're going for when you're undercover. I was like, that's sort of the main character's role. Like, hey, you got to be likable, but you're not stealing any of the shine. Everybody's going to be focused on Nikki and everything else going on in the movie, and you just got to be there and not get in the way of it. Um, but he does he does that well. And uh, now I totally forgot where I was going with that as I stopped to give him a little shout out as the actor. But >> yeah, I I was rambling about about her performance.

[00:29:25]>> Yeah. And oh, I was talking about how good it was. There's times where I wonder like how many times his re reaction might have been genuine as she's like doing those quick changes in personality. like suddenly she's screaming or going back to laughing and he's always kind of like you know wideeyed like someone would be but I'm like if I'm going to be honest if I was sitting there and she was acting like that in front of me doing what I knew was on the page I'd still be like just naturally you know it' be the easiest thing to respond to like kind of freaked out.

[00:29:53]>> Yeah. And I I I'm glad you you brought him up and brought his name up because I do like we're talking about his character kind of being hard to read or whatever, but like it's a phenomenal performance and I do think you know he it's not like we need his help to guide us as an audience through the emotions like but the way he does react and the way he freaks out and I love it when he's like Nikki you're scaring like he says the thing and you know and you're like oh when he says that he sounds so scared and you know we talk about this some nights we're like just because you have to kind of stand there and be wideeyed and look shocked it doesn't mean that that's easy to do you know and he does it at the right times or he holds it for the right amount of time and just the the things he does and I love when he talks to her and you can tell he's trying to walk on eggshells runner and he's like hey Nikki like let's not do this anymore okay like you can't do this and he's >> Nikki you can't cook the cat that's not okay >> yeah and like for him to say that and it not be stupid or ridiculous is is really impressive. I I think he does a great job in this movie and um yeah, like just to go back to her again, her her movements and stuff and then her facial expressions are unbelievable in this movie when she has to put on this, you know, she puts on this horrific kind of smile and it just freezes and man, she just I just can't say enough good about it. And that's what I mean when I say I just think for years to come people breaking into horror or getting a part in a horror movie will will look at her or reference her like the way I'm saying earlier like people talk about Kathy Bates and Misery or D you know name whatever performance you want.

[00:31:37]>> We'll see. I don't know. I'm not I'm not ready to go there yet, but maybe time will prove you to be right. So >> again, it's it's just opinion. Uh >> again, I think it was really good. But yeah, I do think it was really good. Um, but I think we see really good performances and sometimes we think, "Oh, this is going to be like something that really makes its mark and then over time we kind of forget about it and I don't know. We'll see." For sure. And and we're right in the middle and I'm right in the middle right now of everyone being all in on obsession, you know? So, I don't I don't doubt that maybe that is influencing my opinions, but I'm I'm telling you the like I said before, the great thing about this podcast is it documents everything.

[00:32:16]Yeah. So >> maybe that's why I'm hesitant to be like, >> "Yeah." Uh, and we are also, you know, I try to keep in mind we're coming off of like a really rough about month-long stretch where we were just starved for some really good movie. And so this movie was like served up on a platter of like, hey, here's something good and you're starving.

[00:32:35]>> Yeah. This I like I was Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction and and this movie was the adrenaline needle that gets stabbed into her heart.

[00:32:44]>> Yeah. Uh, can I tell you what my favorite part of the movie was? Or really, it's kind of favorite parts of the movie. And it's probably surprising.

[00:32:53]It's probably not what people would think because I do think the absolute best part of the movie is uh Indie and her performance as Nikki. And yet, she's not in any of my favorite scenes. My three favorite scenes, which I would not have expected, are the two scenes in the shop where he buys the Wishing Willow.

[00:33:10]>> Yeah.

[00:33:10]>> And the scene on the phone where he calls the customer service thing. None of which would I have guessed would be scenes I'd really enjoy. But I think the thing that's so good about it, and you mentioned it earlier, it's the way the the shop owners seem to be so casual about this thing and seem to be like aware of it, you know? It's not the typical thing of like he goes in and he's like, "This thing's ruining my life." And they're like, "Dude, it's just a it's a trinket. What are you making a big deal about? And you look crazy and all that." They're very like seem to be in on it. And they're just like, "Oh, what's going on?" Oh, you know, you know, the girl warns him the first off the first time. She's like, "We had a lot of complaint about these."

[00:33:45]He's like, "Because it works or because it doesn't work." And she's like, "I don't know. Maybe because it doesn't work. Maybe because it ruins their lives." You know, it just >> Yeah. It's incredible.

[00:33:54]>> And it's it's And then when it comes back in later, it you think it's going to do the trope thing where it's not where he was. He goes to where he found it and it's not there. And he comes out freaking out. He's like, "Where are they? They were over there." You know, and he's freaking out. And the guy's like, "What are you talking about?" And the guy's like, "I'm just messing with you. They're right here and they're right by him on the counter." And and then the guy just starts talking about it like, "Yeah, this is a known thing."

[00:34:16]And he goes, he's like, "It's it's ruining my life." He goes, "What's wrong?" And he goes, "She's obsessed with me." He goes, "Ah, that's not so bad." And and you're like, "Well, dude, if you knew what he's going through, yeah, it's actually gotten pretty bad."

[00:34:30]But it just it's so funny how casual those characters are about it. And I'm like, that's the stuff that I'm talking about. Like I don't know if he meant for it to be that funny or if it's just he's so good naturally funny and the way he thinks through things that that seems so funny. And then the phone conversation when he calls the customer service which is a little bit in the preview and I thought I know exactly how this conversation goes cuz I've seen it 100 times. I honestly it was giving me the substance vibes you know hey you've got this thing you don't really know how it works and you're not going to get enough information from these people. They're just going to basically tell you like don't do this or you're screwed or something like that. But then the conversation was really funny, which by the way, I don't know, you probably have seen this already, the voice he talks to on the phone is Curry Barker's voice.

[00:35:10]And uh anyways, it it became very apparent to me when he started talking a little more like normal because when he first answers, you get the very like aloof like, "Hey, what's up?" You know, like he's not professional service at all. And then uh when he asked like, "It sounds like you want to submit a um request for cancellation." And he's like, at first he doesn't, but he's like, "Okay, yes. I want to go back to the cancellation. Can I submit a request for cancellation?" He's like, "We don't really do that." He's like, "Well, why did you make it sound like I could?"

[00:35:41]He's like, "It just sounded like that's what you were asking for." And yeah, it's it's really funny how like it just doesn't go the way that any of those scenes usually go and that's what made it so good.

[00:35:54]which adds to my love of this movie.

[00:35:56]Also too, like you said, I agree with you. Really funny. And then it just leads straight into something really horrific when he's like, "Well, do you want to talk to Nikki or whatever he says?" And then you get what I believe is like non spell or nonwish induced Nikki screaming and crying for help on the phone where you're like, "Oh my gosh, this is horrifying." Like, >> yeah. And Bear just hangs up almost immediately like >> Yeah. just kind of funny well-written scene right into something really really horrifying when you stop and think about it.

[00:36:29]>> Yeah. And it gives the bit of information that like as soon as it's given you know kind of how the movie is going to have to play out. Although it's a type movie you don't know but he says as long as you're alive the wish is in effect and you're like well our guy's going to have to die. Fast forward to the ending and he kind of comes to that conclusion. I guess I'm going to have to kill myself. But then we almost get a twist on that where I was like, "Oh, he's not. They're they're gonna find a like more another disturbing way to end this as she finds Okay, I'm I'm I'm doing too much. There's too much to break down here. So, I'm going to back up a little bit. There was uh too much of a stretch of this movie where I was thinking, dude, go get another wishing Willow." And I didn't quite catch on to the fact that you could only get one. So that is a good like roadblock. Then he goes to his friend and he tries to convince his friend to do it. But of course everybody in these movies he really needs to convince somebody something. Becomes a bumbling idiot who can't just like express well why they need this thing. And granted he's gone through all sorts of traumatic things.

[00:37:33]His friend doesn't wish. His friend wishes for a million dollars and breaks a stick and then money just starts falling falling down.

[00:37:40]>> I thought that was such a well done scene.

[00:37:43]>> Yeah. It's so funny because money like mill you know he wished for a billion dollars to like literally just whatever it is at the time thousands of dollars at that time are falling down for the sky and nobody's ever looked more defeated as money falls rains from the sky than Bear does. I'm just like dude this was my like only hope and you just blew it on a billion dollars. That's the look on his face.

[00:38:04]>> Yeah, I thought that was all great and I and I'm like you like I'm glad that they tried to explain it like he gets another one and he can't break it. like it will not break. And it's like that's what I mean when I say like they do a good job of even though it's far out obviously they have rules in this world and they follow them and I always appreciate that. I just want to mention at this point that I just from the trivia I've I discovered that Curry Barker's father is a screenwriter or a playwright or some kind of writer and uh you know that I don't know how much you know you see things in trivia like he got his help from his dad for some things but just all I'm getting at is that one writing is in his family but also just this is such a tightly written thing you can tell a lot of times where people have had people take a look and say like just help me make sure this makes sense. You know, like somebody else with a keen eye, make sure that like, you know, I'm crafting this. And that's where I don't know. I think sometimes we're way too big on the whole like this is one guy's vision all the way through.

[00:39:07]Collaboration tends to make things better, you know, and so him having some people he could bounce things off of probably helped him make this really sharp.

[00:39:17]>> Yeah. I I the way I understand it, you know, like him and Cooper Tomlinson just do a lot of this stuff together. And I know Curry Barker's got the writing credit on this movie, but I would suspect maybe he was, you know, a contributor as well or at least some, like you said, someone to bounce ideas off of. So >> yeah. Uh but then so we get to the ending and he's basically decided like finally Bear has decided people are dying. Basically, the only other two like real character real presences in this movie have been murdered. The Sarah in the car getting murdered. And then Ian, we talked about walking through a door just getting shot. And so he's like, I've got to end this. He gets a hold of the gun, but he can't quite bring himself to shoot himself. Now, here's where I was a little confused.

[00:40:02]What in the world? And I was like, I don't know if I just missed it or I didn't read what the label well enough or whatever. What does he take in the bathroom that he takes like one pill and it's doomed him?

[00:40:13]>> He takes a bunch, doesn't he? Cuz he takes >> Well, that's what I I was thinking is like why is he not taking a bunch? It didn't feel like he took a lot. Felt like he took one just kind of like shoved one down. But maybe I didn't understand how much he was taking. I don't know. Whatever it was, I was just kind of like I don't feel like he's doing this right. But then it we find out it was very effective. Uh, but it's looking like just as it's about to like kick in and he's like as depressed and down as he can be, he kind of snaps out of it and you're not like certain for a moment why. And he walks out to her and just goes right up to embracing her and kissing her and we we grow to understand as the camera pans out probably like you, you're a smart movie watcher. It probably dawned on you before they panned out and like revealed it that she had broke the other wishing Willow and because she's obsessed with him, she wished that he would be in love with her or whatever presumably. But and I thought, "Oh, this is an interesting take on the ending. Now they're both gonna be stuck in this purgatory of obsession with each other." But then it doesn't. And then he starts foaming and he's like the pill kicks in and he starts to die. And then she's of course freaking out cuz the love of her life, you know, under the spell is dying. And she takes the gun and I'm like, "Oh no, we're going to have a Romeo and Juliet thing here. A double suicide that's tragic and could have been avoided." And right as she's about to do it, well into spoilers, of course, this is hugely spoilery. Right as she's about to do it, because he's died, his wish goes away and she comes too. And here she is surrounded by dead bodies, a bloody mess. She's a mess. And it's just like something I mean, it is straight out of a horror movie. And she screams and freaks out and we're done.

[00:41:52]>> It's an unbelievable ending. It to me like, it's a perfect way to wrap up the story. It's a horrifying way to wrap up the story because this >> like I said, Nikki is really innocent in all this and now she's I mean she's not talking her way out of this. Like right >> I assume it wants you to believe that she's going to get you know um blamed and and you know take the punishment for all these murders. So, it's like what a horrible ending for her, but you know, a satisfying ending ending in a weird way for the story that was being told and then just to have the credits roll over her screams and it was like holy cow.

[00:42:30]Like it just it just they landed the plane and in my opinion >> Yeah. I don't know if you read this too that originally Curry Barker wanted it to end with her killing him herself and then was talked into having an ending where she didn't. Presumably the people were trying to talk him into a lighter ending. I'm not sure this actually is lighter.

[00:42:51]>> This may be a darker ending.

[00:42:53]>> Yes. Uh and then once he did it, he was like he realized, "Oh, this is actually better." Yeah. This is kind of a the ending with that screaming and that realization and all of that. It's a it's a great like what happens in the next 24 hours, you know, leave you thinking about that because you're right, like how does she get out of this? What is her first step to call the cops and what does she say? Like what does she remember? you know, was basically like I feel like I was drugged and I haven't I don't know what's been going on for days and of course then they check her system and realize there's no drugs in her system and just but anyways it's just yeah it's a chaotic crazy ending and >> I definitely do like the ending no matter what else I think about the rest of this movie which is all pretty positive. I think the ending is great. I love it and I love that it doesn't do the I mean like I said it's a very dark down ending but a lot of times in these horror movies you know we're asked to go on this horrific ride through hellish situations and then I don't like it when they all of a sudden just tack on like a but everybody's going to be just fine.

[00:43:59]Like I'm not saying I want every movie to have like a down depressing ending but like this just felt authentic to the movie. like he didn't obviously try and throw on a last second like but everything's okay like wink you know like felt true to the movie which I always appreciate.

[00:44:17]>> Yeah. Like in a in a lesser movie somehow at the end it all gets cleaned up with somebody breaking a wish and saying wishing thing and saying I wish none of this ever happened and then it resets and and everything's okay or something like that.

[00:44:32]>> Yeah. Not this movie.

[00:44:34]>> No. it and it's terrifying to think that like in the world of this movie, it's just terrifying to think to think that these wishing willows are just out there wreaking havoc, you know, on anybody who tries to wish for something and it's going to go terribly arry.

[00:44:49]>> Yeah, it's crazy.

[00:44:50]>> Yeah.

[00:44:51]>> Here's a here's a question for you. Uh would you be interested in a spin-off of this movie? Obviously, we can't come back to the same character, same world, but like another branch of the Wishing Willow from Curry Barker. You know, maybe somebody has a totally different desire that goes ary.

[00:45:10]>> So, I've already seen Curry Barker say like he thinks this could be like a cool anthology or same kind of thing. You know, my answer is typically almost always going to be like, "No, I don't want this to continue. I think it would probably be awesome and I have full confidence in Curry Barker after this movie, but just let it go." Same thing I feel about the Glattus prequel they're talking about. Like just leave it be.

[00:45:32]But that's not what Hollywood does. And you know, especially with the the profit that this movie is going to turn. I mean, it already every scent this movie makes is just profit. So, I'm sure they'll find a way to milk this somehow.

[00:45:45]>> Yeah. You want to talk a little bit about what it has made?

[00:45:49]>> Yeah. It opened to just in the US it opened to $17 million, which is like basically just straight profit. I think worldwide it's already up to like 25 or$ 26 million dollars. I have a feeling, again, I could be wrong, but I just have a feeling that this movie is going to have an excellent hold over just with the, you know, kind of the way it's already broken into the cultural conversations and and social media and stuff. I think this movie is going to have a strong hold over.

[00:46:15]>> Yeah. Especially, you know, we talk about all the time just what's what's coming out. Even if there's a big release, it's the question is is is the big release and this demographic, does it have a big overlap? And I don't know if Mandalorian and Grou, you know, the demographic for that is the same is going to be taking away from the demographic that would go see Obsession.

[00:46:33]>> I don't think so. There is a new horror movie coming out this weekend called Passenger or Passengers. Um, that does look good, but I just think this this is what people are talking about right now.

[00:46:44]And this is what I'm seeing all over social media. So, I wouldn't be surprised if this has some kind of crazy low like 25 30% drop, which is excellent for a movie like this.

[00:46:55]>> Yeah. And again, like you said, since we're just right into profitability almost immediately that it's all just icing on the cake.

[00:47:04]>> Yeah. This movie is just printing money.

[00:47:06]So, kudos to everyone involved.

[00:47:09]>> Yeah. Um, you know, you talked about the good buzz it's getting. Just want to mention 95% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, 94% from audiences. That's a That's a pretty high marks right there.

[00:47:21]>> That's very high marks.

[00:47:23]>> All right. I'm I'm glad we've been able to talk through this movie, Andy. I said I feel like as we talk through this movie, it's going to solidify some of my thoughts, and I think I'm I'm coming away leaning more towards this was a home run as we talk about it. Uh, just quickly, I guess I should say the one I think the main thing that was keeping me a little hesitant is that, you know, you know me, I'm all about the the character work and the and the uh building out the, you know, who these people are. And I would have liked more of that, but I do think that I don't know, maybe it becomes distracting. And this is a movie that I don't even know how long this movie was, but it it doesn't feel very long. It feels like it just moves an hour and 48 minutes.

[00:48:07]Yeah. Uh but it it's a movie that it always sounds contradictory, but it's not. It takes its time and yet it doesn't feel slow.

[00:48:20]>> Yep. Absolutely. And that's always an impressive feat when movies can pull that off.

[00:48:25]>> Yeah. Uh yeah. So I I guess we're definitely recommending this one, huh, Andy?

[00:48:31]>> Oh, yeah. I But like you said, the the big warning to give ahead of time is that this is an uncomfortable movie.

[00:48:38]>> Yeah.

[00:48:38]>> I mean, just that scene of her in the restaurant when she No, no, no, no. Like that alone will make you want to hide your eyes just because of the awkwardness.

[00:48:47]>> Yes, the awkwardness. And then there's there's a fair amount of grossness, too.

[00:48:51]I mean, she >> there's some grossness.

[00:48:53]>> She's just becomes so singularly focused with her that she just does some gross stuff. We'll put it that way.

[00:49:00]>> She does some gross stuff. We'll just leave it at that.

[00:49:02]>> All right, Andy, it was a blast to get on here and talk to you about this movie.

[00:49:06]>> It was really fun.

[00:49:08]>> Really, really hope it comes all together in the editing because, you know, just behind the scenes people, it's a little we've had a little bit of a lag here at times and uh sometimes it makes our conversation not as smooth, but uh hopefully it doesn't come across that way. Thank you everybody for joining us. We will be together. We're really close. we were talking about before we started uh me being out of school to being into summer movie season and that's when I really feel like we just thrive. I get to just dive into focusing on this podcast becomes uh it's already the most important thing in my life, but it becomes the really the only thing that I get to worry about in my life for for a stretch.

[00:49:42]>> Yeah, it should be a fun summer.

[00:49:44]>> Yeah. Thank you everybody for joining us. We will see you again next time.

[00:49:50]>> See you next time.