Obsession is a visceral look into the "nice guy’s" misconception of love. The film follows our "protagonist’s" perspective, Bear, as he gets exactly what he wishes for — for Nikki to love him more than anything else, period.
Nikki: "I feel like I need to make a big change. I’m not feeling...love. I need my head in the right place to bring this to life."
Bear: Love...? It’s a romance?
Nikki: No, it’s not a romance. It’s a love story.
Bear: (teasing) Isn’t that a romance?
Bear craves romance. That fleeting, unrealistic, never-ending fairy-tale love. He is obsessed with the idea of Nikki, not the entire human that is Nikki. Day-to-day, Bear is distant. He struggles to be vulnerable (demonstrated by the first scene).
Nikki, on the other hand, understands the nuances of real love. Messy, raw, finite, vulnerable love. Nikki is open and honest with her friends. She is emotionally intelligent. Most of all, she knows who she is. But that isn’t what Bear finds appealing. He wants her to be obsessed with him.
What some men expect from women is not love, but obsession.
After failing to shoot his shot, Bear uses the "One Wish Willow." He wishes that Nikki would love him "more than anyone in the fucking world." The One Wish Willow is why this movie works. It’s so simple! No sloppy exposition, no over-explanation. Bear makes a wish and it works. Chef's kiss.
She falls in love. Except, it’s not really her, and it’s not really love. The One Wish Willow removes Nikki from her own body, replacing her with Bear’s twisted ideal. Nikki non-consensually loses her body. Used by Bear to fulfill his own fantasy, and forced to spectate. The movie does not shy away from the abject horror of Nikki’s experience.
Worse, Bear is okay with it; until it affects him. After the real Nikki breaks through and harms herself, he holds on. After friends tell him "something is wrong," he holds on. After Nikki begs to be killed, he holds on. Always maintaining control over her in his insecure, cold way.
Bear only loves Nikki after a second One Wish Willow is broken by her. But it’s too late, and Bear dies. Nikki, free of Bear’s wish, is left alone with the aftermath of his decisions.
In the end, it’s Nikki who pays the price for Bear’s obsession. A devastating finale that leaves the audience thinking.
Obsession is a beautiful, terrifying story, with robust symbolism, writing, and sound design. Every piece adds to the whole to create an uncanny, disturbing, tense atmosphere. The soundtrack, costume design, writing, lighting, acting, and cinematography are all perfectly in sync.