Best Movie of the Year So Far

Overview

The video is a hype-filled review celebrating Obsession as a potential “best movie of the year.” The reviewer argues the film far exceeds the expectations set by its trailers and early hype.

Opening Reaction

The reviewer starts with a joke: if someone told them months ago that the best 2026 movie would be a horror film, they’d react dramatically like a clueless, over-the-top character (jokingly compared to “Captain Insano”). After watching Obsession, they’re so impressed they confidently call it their favorite movie so far.

Main Idea: “A Wish That Overrides Free Will”

The reviewer highlights the film’s central premise:

• A wish for a woman to fall in love
• Which predictably spirals into obsession and stalking behavior

While the concept isn’t completely new (they compare it to older “wish for love” ideas, such as Fairly OddParents), they argue what makes the film special is how it’s executed—particularly through performances and tension-building.

Performances and Discomfort (“Tactical Cringe”)

A major focus is the acting.

• Michael Johnston (Bear) and Inde Navarrete (Nikki) receive heavy praise.
• The reviewer calls the actress playing Nikki extraordinary.

They emphasize how the film balances comedy and extreme unease, creating moments of “tactical cringe”—self-aware weirdness designed to make the audience feel second-hand embarrassment.

Nikki’s “piloted” presence

The reviewer describes a key dynamic: Nikki’s body often feels “piloted” by the obsession (or demon-like force) created by the wish. At times, the film “snaps back” to glimpses of real Nikki, triggering terrifying realizations—such as Nikki desperately signaling that it isn’t her.

Notable Set Pieces (No Full Plot Spoilers, But Vivid)

The reviewer recounts several uncomfortable or memorable scenes without delivering a full plot breakdown, including:

• A dinner scene where Bear asks about her dad dying, and Nikki spirals into panic in front of everyone—public discomfort that lands hard.
• A prolonged workplace moment where Nikki just stands in low-power mode, smiling by the door for hours, while things get physically messy (vomit is mentioned), reinforcing the film’s unnerving control/possession vibe.
• A party scene featuring disruptive, weird behavior: Nikki reads an odd passage from a book and ruins the vibe, followed by over-the-top laughter. The reviewer jokes about the wobble between humor and seriousness.

Horror without constant “monster mode”

They note the movie is scary without relying only on transformations or nonstop jump scares. Instead, it uses:

• darkness
• face-obscuring framing
• the character’s presence to create dread

Moral Reaction: The Lead Isn’t Entirely Rootable

The reviewer also appreciates that Bear isn’t framed as purely sympathetic. After he realizes the wish is real, he’s portrayed as potentially taking advantage of Nikki’s situation.

• A friend calls him out for exploiting her
• While she’s essentially in a psychotic/possessed state

This complicates how the audience feels throughout.

Style and Self-Awareness

The film’s self-aware weirdness is repeatedly praised. The cringe moments and exaggerated stalking/emotional breakdowns (including lines like “Why don’t you love me?”) are described as flowing naturally—never feeling forced.

They also credit the movie’s lighting, direction, and the lead performance for making familiar beats feel fresh.

Final Verdict

The reviewer concludes that they’re pleasantly surprised by how strong the movie is. They recommend it broadly to horror fans and say they’ll be thinking about scenes for a long time—while noting they expect other major releases later in the year might challenge it.

Main Personalities Mentioned

• Michael Johnston (plays Bear)
• Inde Navarrete (plays Nikki)
• Curry Barker (director)
• RackaRacka (mentioned as a YouTuber director for prior horror films, e.g., Talk to Me)