What if I told you a YouTuber made one of the best movies I’ve seen in the last two decades?

I know YouTubers have been absolutely slaying it lately, but hear me out.

What if I told you this YouTuber outdid Markiplier and the Philippou brothers with a classic trope?

Oh, did that catch your ear?

Let’s discuss.

Obsession is a 2026 supernatural horror film brought to us by writer/director Curry Barker. Barker may not be a household name on his own yet, but he will be. You may have heard of his wildly successful social media show, That’s a Bad Idea, or his award-winning short films like the highly acclaimed Milk & Serial (2024). I had no idea who he was, and I had never seen any of his YouTube or short film projects. This was my introduction to him, and as a fellow art-school dropout, I can say, You did good, kid.

The film focuses on Bear, a sad-sack who’s having a rough time. His grandmother recently died, as did his cat. He lives alone, nursing his love for his beautiful friend Nikki. Nikki has looked after him for years, but has never hinted at romance. With Bear’s life in free fall, he attempts to confess his love to her by giving her a gift. He purchases a novelty wishing stick and wraps it. and waits for the right moment. But when that moment comes, his insecurities cause him to fail. Not only does he freeze up when the moment comes, but he also forgets to give her the gift. Despondent, he wishes on the stick instead, and what follows is beyond his imagination. Yet, things quickly take a turn into the dark when the consequences of getting everything he wanted aren’t anything like his fantasies. Will Bear solve the mystery of the wishing stick’s curse, or will he fall victim to being an obsession?

Few films achieve what Barker achieved in his big-screen debut, and it starts with the script. It’s perfect. This film shows how these different social archetypes interact with situations and dialogue that mirror reality. This is how to write dialogue. People don’t speak in gigantic expository monologues (Cough, Netflix, Cough, Take Notes). This script forces audiences to look up from their phone. There is so much relayed in silence in this film that I was afraid to blink.

It is so refreshing to see only one name on the writing credits.

That’s not to say the script was the driving force of the movie, but it definitely was the fuel for the engine to roar its way into my top 10 films of all time after one viewing. Barker is the modern Richard Matheson, not only because he utilized a story premise similar to many Matheson wrote in short stories or in his time writing for the Twilight Zone. Of course, the success of the storytelling doesn’t just come down to the script.

This is one of the best ensemble performances since 2018’sHereditary.

I know it’s a big claim. I’m also aware that I have a reputation for hyperbole, but hear me out. I doubt anyone seeing this movie knew of any of the actors on the cast list outside of Andy Richter, and that was intended. Barker got this film produced off the back of his original 2023 short film, The Chair. A wildly successful film that starred actors of little repute who performed like the stars they are. With that success, why shake anything up? I mean, who casts a lead actor who’s more known for kids’ cartoons than his supporting role on MTV’s Teen Wolf? Barker does.

Both leads are outstanding in the film. Michael Johnston has a respectable career in film and television, with the majority of his success being found as a voice actor in animated features and video games. I have a feeling that might change for him going forward. He plays a highly flawed character whose motivations are completely understandable. Everyone wants love, a connection, but often they pursue the idea of love through the muddy lens of isolation. As the isolation becomes less about choice and more about the consequences of his actions, the actor reveals the truth of the character, making for one of the most heartbreaking turns I’ve ever witnessed in a film. I hated his character throughout the film, but I understood him. I understand being the outsider. I understand being the one person going home to an empty, loveless home. I understood his sorrow, but as the film teaches, it is no excuse.

I would be lying if I said this was all due to Johnston’s incredible chops, but rather to his chemistry (and lack thereof) with the breakout star of the film, Inde Navarrette.

Navarrette is a powerhouse.

Few actresses could pull off a performance like Navarrette brought to the table here. She is the heart and soul of the film. I liken comparing her performance to other Hollywood actresses in the same way you would compare Margot Fonteyn. She isn’t the most technically perfect, nor does she have the scientific, Peptite and GLP-1-enhanced “Modern Beauty” that Hollywood keeps trying to shove down our throats, much like Fonteyn didn’t have the technical prowess of her contemporaries. However, much like Fonteyn, you cannot take your eyes off Navarrette. It doesn’t matter if the scene is gruesome or disgusting. She gives one of the most beautiful performances I’ve ever seen.

Navarrette’s performance made me love watching movies again.

I know it’s high praise, but I have no filter. Her performance was incredible, especially as she played three separate roles. It helps that she had incredible support from Johnston, Cooper Tomlinson, and Megan Lawless.

Lawless is the unsung hero of the film.

Her performance is what broke me. Her character is the type of girl I ignored and pushed to the side for the mean girls in my teens. She played it so well that it brought up buried regrets in my mind and ultimately shattered my heart. I couldn’t believe how much she stole the show with what little screen time she had.

Full disclosure: I DM’d both actresses to thank them for their performances. I know they will never see it, but it truly was a joy watching them work. Incredible that such young performers are flashing this bright, and they haven’t even hit their primes yet.

Don’t be fooled. This is still a horror movie.

The violence and gore in the film are extremely limited, reserved for when it has the most impact. It’s a slow build, but when it hits, it’s shocking, brutal, and unflinching. This film is not for the faint of heart.

The pacing is perfect, and the runtime is a beautiful 108 minutes.

Pair all this with an incredible original score by Rock Burwell, and you’ve got yourself a perfect movie.

I know my audience and readership are tiny, but please give this a watch. Support indie film. If I can help real filmmakers take over the film industry in any small way, I’m going to do it.

I purchased a digital copy of this one on Fandango, but it is available on all digital markets as of this writing.

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PS. I have a serious surgery this Monday. I should be just fine, but in case this turns out to be my last review— Be kind to one another, support each other. Art without community is worthless.

PPS. If my recovery post-op goes well, I intend for my appearance at Nightmare in the Ozarks (Eureka Springs) Horror Film Festival to be big. So, get your tickets and take a picture with the Maneater, Dream Soup, and more!

Obsession (2026) - Movie Review