Obsession (2025)

One Wish Willow has a customer service line, and calling it is the worst idea in a movie stuffed with them. Obsession is a monkey’s paw story with a gross little hook: a guy too shy to tell his friend Nikki how he feels snaps a cheap wishing toy and wishes she’d adore him above everyone, and the wish takes him at his word. The movie knows Bear is the problem, but it keeps Nikki’s own side thin, so for long stretches she’s more nightmare than person. Inde Navarrette is the reason to go anyway. She’s funny, then sad, then terrifying, and you never lose sight of the real person stuck inside the wish. Michael Johnston plays Bear as a guy who keeps picking the easy way out, which is why it’s so uncomfortable. It made $522.8 million worldwide. A 7.8 because it’s nasty, smart and way more fun than it has any right to be. $71.15 says you walk past a crystal shop this month and cross the street without thinking.

What works: Inde Navarrette swings from sweet to frightening without losing the person underneath, and the dark comedy keeps the dread from going stale.

What doesn’t: Nikki gets very little perspective of her own, so the story about her mostly belongs to the guy who caused the problem.

Who it’s for: Older horror fans who like their scares mixed with uncomfortable laughs and don’t need anyone to be likable.