Inde Navarrette is Your Latest Horror 'Obsession'

The only body we know what it's like to control is the one we occupy, which only makes it more unsettling when our autonomy is stripped away by someone else. When it comes to "Obsession," the latest horror film from YouTuber turned filmmaker Curry Barker, a woman's body isn't appropriated by a physical act of violence or American legislation (as they so often are), but a literal wish. The thing about projecting what you want onto someone else is that its effectiveness only goes as far as the other person is willing to take it. The power of the One Wish Willow removes choice from the equation, presenting the wisher with a demented reflection of what they asked for, and a corrupted vessel that no longer understands free will. It is a special kind of horror that Inde Navarrette embodies to bone-chilling perfection, undoubtedly cementing her place in the horror history books. The trouble all starts with Bear (Michael Johnston), a music store employee burdened by his inability to be truthful about his feelings to whom it matters most. He carries this longstanding crush on his co-worker/childhood friend Nikki (Navarrette) that he can't bring himself to speak out loud. The last thing you want to do is overthink it to the point that any pre-ordained preparation neuters the impact of what you want to say. This doesn't affect Bear because that would require him to say, well, anything meaningful. In his attempt to make a physical offering by replacing Nikki's lost crystal necklace, he instead comes across a retro-looking stick in a box called a One Wish Willow. There are instructions on the box on how to snap it upon you making your wish, but it's pretty much all in the name. The universe initially imparts Bear with a golden opportunity when Nikki asks him for a ride home following trivia night with their friend group. But the car ride ends up being a disaster as he does everything but ask if she's interested in him. In a decision born of impulse and desperation, Bear wishes on the One Wish Willow that Nikki would love him more than anyone in the world. Within moments, Nikki starts finding herself drawn back to the car, not exactly knowing why she feels compelled to do so. Her increasingly erratic behavior turns into a full-blown infatuation with Bear, and one that even he doesn't quite seem to grasp. The only spell that breaks is the one that accompanies the honeymoon phase, leaving Nikki's confusion, sadness and anger to take center stage. In most adaptations of "The Monkey's Paw" story, we witness the terribly ironic aftermath through the perspective of the person who made the wishes. On the surface level, "Obsession" is told through Bear's perspective as he grapples with the aftereffects of his love spell working a little too well. Johnston does excellent work playing a pathetic early 20-something who can't take responsibility for what he's done. We should revel in his wish inevitably turning sour, but it's difficult to do that when Nikki transforms into a malevolent being who makes everyone else's lives worse as a result. What I find so captivating about Navarrette is how, much like the film itself, her demeanor shifts tones in the blink of an eye. "Obsession" is often very funny, with a lot of its bigger laughs emanating from an uncomfortable place of not knowing what else to do, such as when Nikki concocts a makeshift shrine in the kitchen for Bear's recently deceased kitty following their first night together. You feel like a sicko for laughing at something so demented, but that's because of Navarrette, who plays it like a kid who didn't know they weren't supposed to draw on the walls. Writer-director Barker follows up his impressive debut ("Milk & Serial") with a strikingly composed horror film that accentuates the menace behind the darkness and shadows spilling outward. Post-wish Nikki doesn't feel like a real person, especially since Navarette spends the first 15-20 minutes giving us an idea of who she is in the world, and what her aspirations are. We know something's wrong because she's often enshrouded by a black void, with little white glimmers of life hiding within. To make matters worse, Navarrette moves in such an uncanny manner — a la "Cure" — that made me believe she was actually possessed. There are multiple points where I wanted to look away from the screen out of fright, which so rarely happens to me. It speaks volumes of how Barker can shape people into living waking nightmares. Navarrette quickly joins Linda Blair in "The Exorcist" and Lupita Nyong'o in "Us" as one of the landmark characters to any horror film. It's a wholly singular performance that made me recoil in fear, laugh, then make my heart race even more, all within the span of a minute. Nikki's whispering in the dark is just as upsetting, if not more so, than her wails and sharply violent outbursts. Inadvertently or not, fear is the only thing Nikki can truly control. Just when you think she might do one thing, she surprises you with something you never thought was possible. I have no idea how Navarrette pushed herself to such a devastating display of vulnerability, especially in her first real starring vehicle. "Obsession" is an all-around, capital S scary movie hell bent on scaring the wits out of you, and by god, it does. The disturbing implications of how the One Wish Willow takes effect shines through Navarrette's unhumanlike mannerisms, revealing a greater horror than the one Bear (and by default, us) are currently experiencing. Make no mistake, we are going to talk about Navarette throughout the rest of this year, and how seamlessly she's able to flip on that switch. You should absolutely check out "Obsession" if you're looking for a good scare, especially with a full crowd to share the unpleasantness with. The same applies to anyone who believes their selfishness about being in control of someone else's feelings, as this creates a legendarily nerve-shredding lesson in why you absolutely shouldn't do that. You can't put the genie back in the bottle once it's set free. "Obsession" is now playing in theaters nationwide.