I can’t think of a movie that I’ve seen where I wanted to grab the screen and tell the story to stop. Earlier this week, every scene of Obsession made me feel more uncomfortable, more scared and more powerless. It’s not a typical jump scare or genre hack horror movie. Instead, it is attacking the mind and, step by step, gripping it tighter and tighter till the last frame. Why this adult horror, which is so controversial, has been a huge success in the box office is understandable, as apparently this little-known film went from a small budget to a massive hit, and has become one of the biggest horror films ever.
The strength of the film is its ability to take a simple idea and make it very disturbing. The theme of the story is a young man who secretly falls in love with a girl who he has the ability to fall in love with but couldn’t have the guts to tell. He is desperate to find a magical item that can provide any wish, if he breaks it in half. Not only does he want love, but obsessive, unparalleled love: Love that’s never been seen before! The following is not a romance story, it is a nightmare. As soon as he is granted his wish, his fantasy becomes a nightmare and even he is scared of the effects of what he has created.
What left me in awe was the fact that the film didn’t rely on the supernatural as a means to scare but on human actions. The violence, the sex and the horrific images may be sensationalist but the real horror is underneath. Even if the content was censored it is still overwhelmingly psychologically powerful. Over and over the film puts the shocking moments in a place where I had no idea of what would happen, which leads to a constant sense of anxiety throughout. I was constantly waiting for the disaster to strike in each scene as something bad could happen at any moment.
The central female character is played very effectively – it truly has a spirit. One sequence, I can’t forget. She waits at home for her man. She does not blink. She does not speak. She stays there for a long time and urine and faeces get into her clothes. That’s a very special scene as it is not only horrific, but it is almost psychologically devastating. As I watched, it was more a feeling of sadness than fear. Her acting was so convincing I couldn’t help but wondering how anyone could be able to portray such an emotional breakdown in a truly authentic way. It doesn’t seem like acting, it feels like watching a man in a nightmare.
The movie also broaches awkward issues of relationships, consent, obsession and responsibility. It brings forth the notions of “yes” and “no” in a way deeply disturbing. It does not provide easy answers, and provokes a troubling question by the viewer: who is really to blame when obsession goes out of control? It’s the hunter or the hunter’s creator? As I pondered that question, the story grew more tragic the more I thought about it.
There are a couple of scenes that are extremely evil and outrageous that I’m not surprised if they were to be named one of the most shocking scenes ever in the horror genre. They aren’t just as powerful as gore, but as emotional trauma conjoined to gore. It was a moment that stayed with me even after I’d left the theatre.
I had a tremendous amount of relief when the movie ended. It was as if they are leaving a prison where they have been imprisoned for nearly two hours. Few films can illicitly stir that feeling. Obsession is tiring, disturbing and draining, but it’s also effective. Ordinary people placed in a strange situation and then delves into the horrors with great bravery.
I only have to say that I feel censorship is the only thing I have a problem with. I believe that if a film has an adult rating, then viewers should be given the chance to experience it as it was meant to be experienced. But cutting scenes doesn’t really matter when the discussions, clips, and uncut are also spreading out there anyway.
Obsession is not a film for everyone. A sweet young love story isn’t in the cards for anyone who was hoping for it. Dark, psychologically disturbing horror experience that haunts long after the credits. It is uncomfortable, provocative and never forgotten. I don’t want to encounter these moments again, but I can’t deny that this film had a profound impact on me. That is the only reason it’s so popular.
Rating: 4.5/5
