OBSESSION

We watched Obsession on our son’s recommendation.

Horror isn’t realy my thing, although this isn’t your typical horror movie. 

When we watched it, I didn’t know anything about it; it was only later that I discovered how hugely successful it was: something like $500 million on a budget of $750,000.

In fact, even without knowing any details, by the end you’re left with a simple yet very effective message conveying.

This movie opens up a whole range of discussions and lends itself to a conversation about universal themes.

And then there’s a spotlight shone on the long-standing issue that urgently needs to be finally addressed in all its reality.

Although, to be honest, I was already annoyed by the very first scene.

No spoiler if I say that the object you see in the image above, with all its cheap-looking gadget vibe, is actually magical and has the power to grant a wish.

A single wish.

We grew up hearing the three rules of Aladdin’s Genie: he cannot kill anyone, he cannot make anyone fall in love, and he cannot bring the dead back to life.

The One Wish Willow grants only one wish in the lifetime of the person who makes it, with the caveat that the wish will end only with the death of the person who made it.

Here’s the crux of the matter: if you found yourself thinking about what you’d like to see come true, would you also consider the consequences? 

Director Clive Burker encapsulates this concept in his two main characters.

His bio describes him as an Alabama-born Generation Z director who got his start making horror short films on YouTube.

In 2026, he broke into the studio system with Obsession for Blumhouse and Focus Features.

Michael Johnston plays Bear, while Danielle Fabiola Inde Navarrette plays Nikki.

Inde Navarrette was a Call of Duty streamer on Twitch, and in this role, she demonstrated great acting ability by embodying Nikki Freaky, her obsessive and uncontrollable alter ego.

The director himself summed up the frustration of the real Nikki in a metaphor: experiencing everything as if you were sitting in the back seat.

So the ingredients are firmly rooted in the web: YouTubers, streamers, horror, and obsessions…

Tony’s blog mentioned it in his June list; and you? Have you seen it?