When horror films break out critically, audience scores do not always follow. But according to Rotten Tomatoes, \u201cObsession\u201d has managed to win over both sides of the divide with matching 95% scores from critics and verified viewers<\/strong>, making it the most unanimously praised genre release of 2026. <\/p>\n The picture, written and directed by Curry Barker<\/strong>, opens in theaters today through Focus Features after first premiering in the Midnight Madness section at the Toronto International Film Festival last September.<\/p>\n At the center of \u201cObsession\u201d is Bear, played by Michael Johnston<\/strong>, a music store employee whose feelings for childhood friend Nikki spiral into something far darker after he uses a supernatural object called the \u201cOne Wish Willow.\u201d<\/strong> The wish appears simple at first. He wants Nikki, portrayed by Inde Navarrette<\/strong>, to love him more than anyone else. The consequences quickly become violent.<\/p>\n The film blends supernatural horror with psychological tension, gradually transforming a romantic fantasy into a nightmare fueled by dependency, manipulation, and physical decay. Barker reportedly drew inspiration from the famous \u201cThe Simpsons\u201d episode involving a monkey\u2019s paw style wish<\/strong>, then expanded the concept into a feature centered on emotional fixation and escalating terror.<\/p>\n Much of the attention surrounding the picture has focused on Navarrette\u2019s performance<\/strong>, which critics singled out repeatedly following the movie\u2019s festival debut. Her portrayal shifts between vulnerability, instability, menace, and heartbreak as Nikki becomes consumed by the wish\u2019s effects. Johnston\u2019s performance as Bear anchors the story from the opposite direction, portraying a character whose desperation ultimately destroys everyone around him.<\/p>\n The supporting cast includes Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless<\/strong>, and Andy Richter.<\/strong> Behind the scenes, Barker also handled editing duties while collaborating with cinematographer Taylor Clemons<\/strong> to create the film\u2019s deliberately uncomfortable visual framing. Production designer Vivian Gray<\/strong> remodeled a home in Burbank, California, to serve as the primary setting for Bear\u2019s increasingly claustrophobic world.<\/p>\n The movie\u2019s path to release accelerated after its Toronto premiere, where distributor interest reportedly intensified almost immediately. Focus Features eventually secured worldwide rights in a deal said to exceed $15 million<\/strong>, with Universal Pictures handling international distribution in several territories. <\/p>\n By the time the title reached theaters, \u201cObsession\u201d had already developed strong word of mouth among horror fans,<\/strong> a reaction now reflected in its unusually matched Rotten Tomatoes scores from critics and audiences alike.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nA Horror Film Built Around Romance and Obsession<\/h2>\n