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Obsession

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General Review

Parent's Guide to Obsession

Obsession (2026) is an upcoming supernatural horror film directed by Curry Barker and produced by Blumhouse Productions, scheduled for theatrical release on May 15, 2026. The movie centers on Bear, a music store employee, who uses a mysterious object called the 'One Wish Willow' to make his childhood crush, Nikki, fall obsessively in love with him. This wish quickly devolves into a terrifying nightmare as Nikki's love becomes violent and possessive, leading to dark and unexpected consequences for both characters. The film has garnered early positive reviews from festivals, praising its blend of intense horror, psychological depth, and dark humor. It is anticipated to be a disturbing and unsettling experience, exploring themes of toxic obsession and the dangers of manipulating free will.

Things to Consider

High5

Violence

The film features significant graphic violence, including explicit depictions of gore and brutal attacks. The director had to reduce the intensity of a scene to avoid an NC-17 rating, yet still describes the remaining content as 'really f**king hardcore.'

Nikki, driven by the wish, is shown 'killing people so she can have Bear all to herself'. Reviews mention scenes where 'skulls crushed, skin carved, and house pets desecrated' are depicted. Director Curry Barker explicitly stated he had to remove 'about six or seven more smashes' from an intense scene to avoid an NC-17 rating, confirming graphic depictions of head smashes.

Romance and Sexual Content

The movie contains explicit sexual content, including brief graphic nudity, and explores themes of romantic coercion within an obsessive relationship. The central premise revolves around a magically induced, nonconsensual romantic and potentially sexual dynamic.

Profanity

The film contains pervasive strong language, contributing to its R-rating. Reviewers and the director describe the language as frequent and impactful.

Witchcraft & Occult

Witchcraft and occult themes are central to the film's plot, revolving around a supernatural item that grants wishes with dark, uncontrollable consequences, fundamentally altering a person's free will.

Scary & Intense Content

The film is a highly intense and terrifying supernatural horror that utilizes jump scares, disturbing imagery, and psychological elements to create a deeply unsettling experience, with critics describing it as 'nightmare fuel.'

Would these 5 concerns matter to your family?

Get a report based on your values — not generic ratings.

Medium2
Substance UseDisrespect & Rebellion
Low2
LGBTQ & Gender IdentityAnti-Christian Themes

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Obsession (2026) is recommended for mature audiences, specifically ages 17 and older, due to its MPAA R-rating. This rating is justified by the presence of strong bloody violence, grisly images, sexual content, pervasive strong language, and brief graphic nudity. The film also contains mature themes such as coercion, suicide, references to drug use, and intense psychological horror that could be disturbing for younger viewers.

Good to Know

Obsession (2026) is noted for its blending of horror and dark comedy, which may affect parental perception of its intensity. Director Curry Barker has a background in YouTube sketch comedy, which may influence the film's pacing and humor. The film is described as a 'slow burn that pays off with an increasingly horrific final act'.

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