SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “Obsession,” now playing in theaters.
The best movie villains inspire empathy or understanding in an audience: Maybe they profoundly believe what they’re doing is right, or have been so damaged by their past that retribution seems like the only way out.
Judging by trailers and posters alone, “Obsession” is about a young man named Bear (Michael Johnston) who accidentally creates a monster when he is granted a magical wish to have his crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), love him more than anyone else. Unfortunately, it’s a real “be careful what you wish for” situation, and Nikki’s obsession with Bear becomes more and more extreme.
What’s fascinating is that, very quickly, it’s clear that Nikki’s monstrous impulses are beyond her control, as the “real” Nikki lives buried just below the surface, able to occasionally burst out of a body she is unable to manage. It’s a rarity that the monster in a horror film pivots to be the object of empathy, but Navarrette is an expert at pulling off this unique balance, and her performance is one that should be remembered (and, more importantly, actually considered) come award season.
Navarrette’s strength shows early as Nikki is introduced as Bear’s BFF, who is kind to him but sets unspoken boundaries that it’s a friend zone. Her girl-next-door energy feels perfect for what the audience sees in Bear, and as we begin to see how head-over-heels he is for her, we’re hoping for a connection.
