Obsession (2026) Movie Review: How the Film Adds a Dark Layer to the “Man vs. Bear” Debate
In Obsession, Nikki May Be the Most Violent Character, but Bear Is the Real Villain
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Finally, the long-awaited horror film Obsession (2026) has received its wide release. In this Obsession movie review, I was able to catch the film early about a month ago at the Philadelphia Spring Fest, and I’ve been itching to watch it again ever since.
How Was Obsession? Movie Review Breakdown
Let me start off by saying I love Nikki. That’s my girl right there, in both normal and terrifying form. I want the Funkos, I want the t-shirts—give me all the Obsession merch centered around Nikki. I also just want us all to realize that no matter what she did, she is 100 percent the victim in this situation.
It’s that creepy bastard Bear who is to blame for all of this, and he is the true villain of Obsession (also an excellent one, btw). I was blaming him from the moment I saw the trailer and continue to blame him even as the credits roll. He built this nightmare brick by brick (pun intended for those who have watched the film).
The movie itself is great, which seems to be the general consensus in most Obsession movie reviews. It strikes a strong balance of comedy, creepiness, and gore, while still managing to be genuinely terrifying. The most unsettling part, in my opinion, is Bear’s relationship with Nikki.
I personally couldn’t get the whole “Man vs. Bear” debate out of my head after watching Obsession because it feels like the perfect nightmare scenario behind why some women say they would choose the bear. And the fact that his nickname is literally Bear makes it even more unsettling. How often do women have to question their male friends’ true intentions? This shouldn’t even be a thing, but there are many people who believe men and women cannot be just friends because the man is always waiting for the right opportunity to make it more. Steve Harvey is one of the most well-known figures to speak on this idea on several occasions.
I’m not saying I agree with it, but I am saying Obsession does not help that argument at all.
Looking at the film from this perspective, and through Nikki’s experience, this is what makes Obsession so disturbing. Sure, relationships and romances can evolve from friendship, but Bear never even attempts to approach it in a healthy or normal way. And what makes it worse is that when he realizes what he’s done, he continues to prioritize his own feelings and desires, arguably showing that he cares more about himself than Nikki. Meanwhile, Nikki is left trapped in an obsessive connection with someone she thought she could trust since childhood. Pure horror.
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What Works Best in Obsession
Inde Navarretee as Nikki:
Inde absolutely killed her role as Nikki. Going between essentially being normal and obsessively possessed can’t be easy, and she completely slayed it. She has very much given us a new horror movie icon, and she was honestly a huge part of what made the movie so great.
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Michael Johnston:
I also have to give it to Michael Johnston. As much as I hate the character of Bear, Michael played the part well, so I’ve got to give him credit for it. He did the perfect contrast of coming off as an innocent and harmless good dude while being an absolute creep. It’s like an unreliable narrator, and his sweetness and good looks were not enough to hide the fact that he was a true piece of shh.
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Curry Baker:
Shout out to Curry Baker for writing and directing this new horror gem. I loved everything about it. The dark aesthetics in the scenes match the tone of the movie perfectly. The comic relief moments are also blended in so well. The customer service call between Bear and the One Wish Willow was hilarious. I also love the fact that Curry Baker has a strong, eerie ending, which has not been easy for films to pull off. There are so many movies and shows out there that are solid watches with weak endings. This was all around good.
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Who Should Watch Obsession (2026)?
If you like creepy relationship horror movies with comedy sprinkled in, yes—please watch Obsession. I think most horror fans will enjoy this, and I think the story itself carries some deeper layers about relationships, trust, and why being a woman continues to be more and more terrifying.
Obsession (2026) is a messy, unsettling and weirdly funny horror ride that sticks with you long after it is over and this Obsession movie review stands by it as one of the most disturbing takes on trust and friendship in recent horror.
Thanks for reading.
-A. Monique