I join CTV NewsChannel anchor Renee Rogers to talk about the new releases in theatres, including the hellish hallmark “Obsession,” the rowdy revenge of “Is God Is” and the secrets of “The Wizard of the Kremlin.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk about the new movies coming to theatres including the hellish hallmark “Obsession,” the rowdy revenge of “Is God Is” and the secrets of “The Wizard of the Kremlin.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
Fast reviews for busy people! Watch as I review three movies in less time than it takes to make your bed. Have a look as I race against the clock to tell you about the hellish hallmark “Obsession,” the rowdy revenge of “Is God Is” and the secrets of “The Wizard of the Kremlin.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I join the Bell Media Radio Network national night time show “Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift” to talk about Stephen Colbert’s final show on CBS, review the horror rom com “Obsession” and suggest some drinks to get obsessed about.
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
SYNOPSIS: In “Obsession,” a new horror film now playing in theatres, a lonely guy’s wish to win love comes with a heavy, horrifying price.
CAST: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter. Directed by Curry Barker.
REVIEW: A “monkey’s paw” story for a new generation, “Obsession” takes longing and turns it into a masterclass in anxiety and be-careful-what-you-wish-for vibes.
Milquetoasty music store clerk Bear (Michael Johnston) harbors a longtime unrequited crush on co-worker Nikki (Inde Navarrette). They see one another every day at work, and sometimes go out for trivia nights, but in Nikki’s view, he is firmly in the friend zone.
He doesn’t have the courage to ask her out, so, instead, he turns to a toy called a “One Wish Willow” to win her heart. Shaped like a small branch from a willow tree, the magical trinket offers its owner one irreversible wish. Snapping the stick in half he says, “I wish Nikki loved me more than anyone in the world.”
Within minutes his wish is granted, but Nikki’s affections are more than Bear bargained for. “So, she’s just stuck like this forever?” Bear asks One Wish Willow caller support. “Well, yeah,” comes the response. “I mean, as long as you live.”
There has never been a love story quite like “Obsession.” It’s Hallmark in Hell.
What begins as a relatable story of one-sided love soon becomes a gruesome and gory study of consent, toxic relationships, unintended consequences and moral responsibility.
Writer and director Curry Barker takes his time, nurturing an air of unease as the shocking results of Bear’s wish become apparent. As Nikki turns into a violent, manic Stepford Wife, consumed by her magical obsession with Bear, the film maintains a deliberate pace, allowing the horror to linger.
There is some of the genre’s prerequisite gore and general unpleasantness, but “Obsession” is most effective when it lets Navarrette take center stage. From hipster to hellion, she dominates. With subtle, and not so subtle, shifts in behavior she creates an unforgettable portrait of a person possessed and obsessed as she flip flops from dream girl to rage monster. It’s wild work, but as with classic monsters, like Frankenstein’s creature or the Werewolf, she’s sympathetic because her behavior is beyond her control. She does terrible things, but is driven by Bear’s supernatural wish, not choice. It makes for a layered viewing experience, enriched by Navarrette’s committed performance.
“Obsession” can feel repetitive, but, even so, you may find yourself becoming obsessed with its lead performance.
