It’s no secret that Obsession has found an insane amount of success in the months since its theatrical debut, becoming the little indie movie that could and proving that films, especially horror films, can achieve the impossible with an original idea, a killer cast of unknowns, and a dream. And it’s thanks to those handful of things, and sticking true to its vision, that Curry Barker’s breakout film has officially become one of the biggest horror films of all time, having brought in over $500M worldwide.
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Not only has Obsession earned the title of one of the most successful horror movies ever, but it’s also become the most successful original film of the decade, officially knocking Elemental from the top spot and proving that modern horror truly can compete with even the biggest blockbusters. And it did it all with a budget under $1 million. The film’s success proves one thing above anything else: people want original stories, not just rehashes, remakes, and reboots. The style-over-substance, cult-of-celebrity days may no longer reign supreme, and for a large group of film fans, it’s a moment that couldn’t come soon enough.
Obsession‘s Insane Level of Popularity Ties Directly To Its Originality
With an impressive 94% from both critics and audiences, the movie centers on Bear (Michael Johnston), who realizes he doesn’t have what it takes to impress the woman he’s obsessed with, Nikki (Inde Navarrette). Bear decides to take matters into his own hands, effectively ruining everyone’s lives in the process. He finds and breaks an item known as the “One Wish Willow,” waking up to discover that he’s ended up with exactly what he wants. But it’s not a happy ending, especially for Nikki, who finds herself locked inside her own mind as Bear has convinced himself that she’s in love with him. Speaking to the plot’s originality, one fan said, “It’s so incredible seeing an original horror concept cross half a billion dollars without relying on a pre-existing franchise or reboot. the entire cast and crew must be on cloud nine seeing their hard work pay off like this.”
Critics are also quick to sing the film’s praises, with Simon Thompson saying, “If you care about original horror movies in any way, shape or form, go and see Obsession at the first chance you get. This is a first-class horror movie in its deft combination of old and new ideas and genuinely palpable sense of terror.” And hopefully the praise, along with the obvious financial benefits, will encourage more studios to take a chance not only on horror movies, but original films in general. It’s clear fans want this, and the as-yet-unknown actors and a script that brings something new to the table have more than enough potential to usher in a whole new decade of original stories.
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Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
