PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I will clear the air now: this film is nothing but one big trigger. I don’t support a big part of Obsession due to my own personal struggles and traumatic moments, and it turned them into something that almost made me turn off the movie and say f**k this.
Some things just aren’t needed to make a good movie, and the sad part is, Obsession has a great plot and an almost unheard-of story; this movie shines in the darkness. I felt I needed to be fair, because there is a lot to unpack here. If you have ever read any of my articles, you would know I stand strong in decent stories and comedic value for the most part.
Let’s get into this review.
Synopsis
After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
A Pet Too Far
Obsession had a story that could have gone in so many areas of horror. The film shines on a subject not many have thought of, even though the concept seems so common. This is what attracted me to the film; everyone told me I had to see this genius movie, and with all the buzz, as a journalist, of course I had to bite on watching it. I have come here to say that this movie shines a bit, but it also breaks into traumatic scenes that seem so real. Number one, don’t f***ing hurt pets, or be so detailed in their death. To be honest, that made me want to stop watching and left a sour taste in my mouth.
The pet death scene was so unnecessary. So was the suicidal ideation, which gave me the final decison to turn this movie off. I couldn’t deal with something I knew so well in my life. Once again, it triggered me with all the thoughts of wishing I was dead; that’s just not cool to mess with the viewer. I have just hit two years since I lost my best friend, and this only sent shockwaves through my body; I had to relive every moment of losing him.
I don’t need a movie to focus on it. The idea of your pet dying is a cheap shot at anyone with a heart. It didn’t need to be there, almost, with all the other scenes involving this poor pet. The film broke this one single rule for me. Kill kids, grandmas, grandpas, and anyone else, including parents, who deserve it, but for the sake of humanity, leave the subject alone, or make it short and easy for the viewer to collect themselves. That was not an option; instead, the film kept opening up this wound.
Saving Grace
Aside from all of this, I still enjoyed the basis of the movie. The plot was something I didn’t think too much that someone was going to make this into a feature. We have seen the same type of plot in TV shows such as Supernatural, but there was never any real focus on it. Maybe that’s because the plot also seems so childish. I am not sure how breaking a little stick was going to change your love life. It seems so silly, and then it turns that idea and flips it into a tombstone pile-driver.
The film had so much potential; instead of me looking at it as an Are You Afraid of the Dark episode. I am not calling it a trash film because you should let people enjoy things. If I can watch Art the Clown kill a bunch of kids while laughing about it. In my opinion, everyone involved knew what they were doing and baited us right in.
The Good Times
The scenery and mood were very disturbing, waiting for what would happen next, and I was progressively getting more sick to my stomach, in a good way at first. The film embeds itself into the darkest part of your mind. It makes you test the reality of horror. The film tries to base itself on shock value and an interesting idea of how far we can go for the love of filmmaking.
I know I didn’t focus too much on the positives, and there are some in my opinion. I would hate to have wished upon this nightmare. That is what makes this plot almost childlike. Breaking a twig is a fairy-tale notion to me. Magic sticks and sage clearing your house of “evil” really work. However, Obsession turned my expectations on several different golden moments; it’s just unfortunate it became a movie I will only watch once, and it was enough to say never again. That is just me, with a broken heart and triggered nonstop.
In The End
I wish they made more horror films with less realism. These days, films have someone being chased around a studio apartment, haunted by the ghost of Christmas past or whatever. Love it or hate it, Obsession nailed their assignment; it was just too much for me. I watch films about zombies and other creatures of the night; I was not impressed by how real this movie seemed, without the magic stick, of course. The idea of a magic stick to make someone fall for you seems so silly, until it works, of course.
I would love to see a less traumatic film with this plot and can’t help but think of the poor pets. It was a nonsensical idea, and the sandwich scene? why thef**k did we need that? I walked away feeling torn. Torn between a good story and my own fears and morals.
