Nikki from Obsession has been haunting Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood all season, and she’s been a big hit. So, I’ve been wondering when Inde Navarrette might make an appearance at the theme park to see her character, and it finally happened this week.

Navarrette, who wasn’t famous before Obsession became one of the most talked-about movies on the 2026 release schedule, just went to her first Horror Nights since the game-changing role. Check out her posing with one of the scare actors who roam the park all night as Nikki:

I can’t stop looking at this photo. It’s too good. Navarrette posed with that unmistakable sad face Nikki dons in the movie that’s become a meme. She’s also holding up a “One Wish Churro,” which is a delicious HHN exclusive being served during the Universal Studios Hollywood event. I’ve tried it, and it’s very much worth it. It tastes like Oreos, and I definitely kept the box it came in.

It’s great to see one of Universal’s Nikki actors with Inde Navarrette, because it really highlights how well they are doing to portray the Obsession character for theme park fans. If you haven’t seen it in action, here’s one video from a guest:

Universal Studios' Nikki has become a viral sensation that guests can’t stop trying to look for and get videos of. When I went to Horror Nights myself, I learned how difficult it is to find Nikki, but that makes it extra special for those who do. I do have to wonder if any fans that night did a double take seeing both the Nikki scare actor and Navarrette on the same night.

The X-Men actress previously said it was her “dream” to see Obsession have a haunted house at Universal. She said she goes “every year” and also shared her excitement to see the Sinners house, and she finally went! Here’s what she told Cosmopolitan about the annual theme park spectacular:

Since Obsession came out in May, and HHN started planning their houses over a year in advance, there wasn’t time for a whole haunted house to be crafted. But I absolutely love that Nikki ended up being part of Universal’s spooky season event.

At this year’s HHN, we did a ranking of both events in Hollywood and Orlando. We found that the Sinners house and the Ozzy Osbourne houses made the top five at each one. You can attend Halloween Horror Nights yourself until the event concludes on November 1. And you can check out Obsession with a Peacock subscription.

If I starred in a new horror movie that turned my face into an internet meme, I would absolutely find a way to turn the newfound notoriety into some kind of family group-chat annoyance. Someone suggests a terrible idea? Send the appropriate reaction of my mug. Stepdad says something ridiculous? Hit send on the triple chin scare face. Apparently Obsession star Inde Navarrette understands this impulse perfectly, because she's seen all those Nikki memes, and she has a relatable take.

Navarrette's performance as Nikki in Curry Barker's 2026 calendar release became a massive surprise hit and has produced some of the year's most recognizable memes, particularly her deeply uncomfortable "No, no, no" scene. On The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, the actress admitted she's enjoying the attention and has already found a wonderfully practical use for those memes when communicating with her father. She explained:

For anyone who missed Obsession, the flick follows Bear (Michael Johnston), after he uses a mysterious wish-granting object to make his crush Nikki fall in love with him. Predictably, things get horrifying. Navarette's performance swings between romantic affection and outright menace, and the scene, as previously mentioned, "No, no, no," became a ready-made internet reaction.

The film cost about $750,000 to make and has since earned more than $500 million worldwide, a ridiculous return for an indie horror movie. It also turned its female lead into a breakout horror star, and she’s obviously finding a useful way to use her most unsettling performance to tell her dad to knock something off. Naturally, the follow-up question is whether Navarrette really sends people memes of herself. She was not remotely embarrassed about it, adding:

That last part is probably the smarter advice here. Becoming a meme means strangers can remix your face, repeat your lines and form opinions about you at a speed nobody could realistically keep up with. The Trap House alum can enjoy the jokes without reading every reaction or allowing the internet to dictate how she feels about her work.

She has considerably more work ahead. After earlier appearances on Superman & Lois, Navarrette has been cast as Rogue in Marvel's upcoming X-Men reboot. So she'll soon have an entirely new fandom watching her every move.

For now, Obsession is available to stream with a Peacock subscription. I'd say watch it before sending your own Nikki memes, but by this point, half the internet probably knows the scene by heart.

The horror genre has been thriving for a while now, and 2026 has certainly been no exception. Both Backrooms and Obsessions crushed it simultaneously at the box office, and the latter has become a pop culture sensation. I mean, Freaky Nikki is even a character at Hollywood Horror Nights. I recently re-watched the movie for the first time with my Peacock subscription, and one line in particular hit me like a ton of bricks... pun intended.

Obsession's most gruesome scene happened in its third act, when Wish Nikki violently kills Sarah by smashing her head repeatedly into a brick until her face is basically demolished. I was gearing up to watch this scene again from the comfort of my home, and it turns out that one early line of dialogue totally set it up.

The Brick Scene Was Totally Foreshadowed

Fans have been wondering what happens to Nikki after Obsession's ending, where she's freed from the wish and surrounded by her friends' dead bodies. While we're not expecting a direct sequel, Curry Barker hinted that things probably didn't go well for Nikki. After all, there's a ton of evidence pointing to her being a murderer, especially after Sarah and that brick.

It turns out that moment was totally foreshadowed early into Obsession's 109-minute runtime. When Bear gives Nikki a ride home from the bar, she says that she's only able to talk really honestly with him. She speaks about how he's a good listener at work, saying:

My jaw pretty much hit the floor when I heard this line. Obviously, it went in one ear and out the other when I saw Obsession in the movie theater, but Curry Barker's script was subtly hinting at what would be Wish Nikki's most violent act. It makes me appreciate how specific the filmmaker's vision for the movie was, and further shows why he is deserving of all the flowers coming his way.

Given Obsession's wild critical and box office success, all eyes are on what Curry Baker will bring to the horror genre next. Many people are hoping for a direct sequel to the film, while Nikki actress Inde Navarette would like to see the filmmaker do an Obsession anthology series. There are more One Wish Willows out there, and each of them can have a unique story about the dangers of wishing something into existence. We'll just have to see if we ever get a follow-up to the fan favorite movie, or if Barker pivots and brings something different altogether for his next project.

Obsession is streaming in all its glory on Peacock as part of the 2026 movie release list. If you haven't given the movie a second watch since seeing it on the big screen, I highly recommend it.

Curry Barker’s successful summer flick, Obsession, became a word-of-mouth sensation that left many horror fans themselves obsessed. One major element that critics all agree makes the film memorable is its lead, Inde Navarette, who gives a truly nightmare-inducing performance scene after scene. If you want to know how dedicated Navarette was to giving audiences chills (and her director), the talented actress said she refused to rehearse one surprising scene.

Bear’s wish for Nikki to love him more than anyone goes back to the adage, “Be careful what you wish for.” Through Nikki’s supernatural transformation, Navarette brought maniacal terror to each spine-chilling scene. None of those moments were done without rehearsal, except apparently for one scene. During an episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Navarette recalled director Curry Barker being shocked when she said she wouldn't practice a key moment:

The Critic’s Choice Super Award winner took a bold stance by not rehearsing that bed scene, but her rationale made sense. After all, what makes Nikki’s freakouts so horrifying to watch are how spontaneous they are. So, naturally, the versatile lead wanted to save the freaky Nikki scenes for when the cameras rolled to make it a genuine performance. I mean, I personally didn’t see it coming whenever the Nikki would make an appearance and freak out after her makeout session with Bear. So, I’d say a job well done.

It may be typical for actresses to leave it to rehearsal to see what works and what doesn’t. But, for Navrette, she needed to let her instincts take over on set, compared to letting everyone see what she was going to do first. She explained:

While we don't need any directors to "die" here, Navarette created quite an impressive strategy to avoid revealing Nikki’s haunting nature until "action" was heard. It clearly worked, as it apparently brought chills to the YouTuber and box-office-smashing director. I can imagine that in those unexpected frantic moments, the indie filmmaker knew he made the right call by casting Navarette for his horror flick.

Not only did Inde Navarette go method actress in keeping Nikki’s freakouts a secret until filming, but she also emotionally distanced herself from her co-workers to focus on her performance instead of worrying about offending anyone through her Nikki portrayal. With all of the hard work and effort that the X-Men star brought into Obsession, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw her name during this year’s awards season.

What Navaratte's behind-the-scenes story shows is that she's not just committed to her craft, but she's also willing to advocate for herself when it's necessary. Considering that, I have a feeling we're going to be watching this true talent on screen for some time. If you haven’t had a taste of Nikki under the One Wish Willow, Obsession is streaming now with a Peacock subscription.

Obsession easily stands tall as one of 2026's most buzz-worthy movies and made a star out of Inde Navarrette. Now she's landing roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that doesn't mean she'd be above returning for a sequel. She's signaled a few times that she's down to return, but my hot take is I wouldn't want her involved.

It may seem crazy to say, but hear me out. I loved Navarrette's performance, and all that she brought to the movie to make it a success. The raving about her performance is well-deserved, but that doesn't mean we need to include Nicky in a sequel when the story isn't about her.

The One Wish Willow Is Infinitely More Interesting Than Any Follow-Up With Nicky

Obsession's ending left us with questions about what's next for Nicky after she might be found with two dead people and a gun with her fingerprints all over it. After reading the cast's thoughts about it, I think it's safe to say we can shut the book on that storyline. Yes, Inde Navarette's performance was great, but now that she's no longer Wish Nicky, it's not like her appearing in a sequel would bring back that performance.

I'm of the opinion that the One Wish Willow, and the mythos that surrounds the product, is infinitely more interesting and worthy of anything an Obsession sequel could cover. Once the credits rolled, I found myself with more questions tied to that than anything, so I'd much rather see a follow-up centered on that than Nicky.

An Obsession Sequel Should Have Nothing To Do With The First Story

I have no interest in seeing a sequel retread the ground of the original Obsession, and it seems as though Inde Navarette is on the same page. Rather than a sequel being a straight-up investigation of the One Wish Willow makers, why not create a franchise that revolves around people using the device to make wishes, and then it goes catastrophically wrong?

Is it a ripoff of The Monkey's Paw? Inadvertently, yes, because director Curry Barker was only made aware of the story through The Simpsons' parody of it. That aside, that takes nothing away from my enjoyment of the movie, and I'd be thrilled to see what other ways people could potentially ruin their lives with a bad wish.

I'd also just like to see if everyone's One Wish Willow is a bad experience. Like, sure, it can go wrong for some people, but wouldn't it be funny to see a movie where everything works out for the person in the end? Like, imagine a world in which Bear didn't overdose, and he and Nicky are just in some sick, unhealthy romance that other people just happen to stumble in on. I guess that's still a bad ending, but at least they're both alive at the end. In any case, I would love to see more on the One Wish Willow so we could see how it works out for others.

In the meantime, all we have to reference is Obsession, which is streaming for those with a Peacock subscription. I'll be eager to see how this franchise evolves, and if it ultimately enters the conversation of the original being one of the best horror films out there.

Plenty of movie casts spend months together on set and come out the other side talking about the little family they built, sometimes with matching tattoos to prove it. Inde Navarrette had a different approach when she showed up to make the 2026 movie calendar breakout hit, Obsession. She wasn’t, in her words, “trying to be a dick,” but she also wasn’t particularly interested in making friends.

The role asks Navarrette to make some pretty wild emotional turns, and she recently revealed that she took an unusual approach to protecting the headspace she needed to pull them off. During a Focus Features screening of Obsession at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills, Navarrette explained (via The Hollywood Reporter) that she went into production intentionally keeping her relationships on set professional. She told the audience:

It's an interesting bit of actor logic, and I get where she's coming from. Navarrette wasn't suggesting she walked around the Obsession set terrorizing the craft services table or refusing to acknowledge anybody who said hello. She was trying to create enough emotional distance to prioritize the performance without worrying about how someone might interpret her behavior between takes.

If she needed five minutes alone before a difficult scene, she wanted to take them. If she needed to disappear outside and get herself into Nikki's head, she didn't want to spend that time wondering whether she'd just offended somebody she'd been laughing with 20 minutes earlier.

That was especially important, because the breakout actress saw Obsession as an opportunity to prove what she could do as a performer. When you're looking at a part as your chance to show some range, I can understand wanting as few distractions as possible. Fortunately, director Curry Barker seems to have understood exactly what she needed. Navarrette continued:

In a funny turn of events, the Superman & Lois veteran’s "I'm not here to make friends" experiment ended with her making a friend anyway. More importantly, she seems to have found the working environment she was looking for. There was enough trust between actor and director for her to ask for space when she needed it without turning every quiet five-minute reset into some kind of interpersonal drama.

Considering how far Nikki travels over the course of the newer horror movie release, that room to disappear into the character probably came in handy.

One has to wonder whether Navarrette will carry this approach into her upcoming role as Rouge. How appropriate is it for the mutant who cannot physically touch her fellow X-crew, or anyone, for fear she’ll steal their powers or their lives, to be played by an actress who goes into the process with all her castmates at arm’s length? We'll have to wait for the forthcoming Marvel flick to hit theaters to see how she approaches the part.

Until then, fans can revisit 2026's horror movie blockbuster Obsession, which streams for everyone with a Peacock subscription.

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that Obsession star (and future X-Man) Inde Navarrette is producing and starring in a movie called The Waffle House Index. I’ll admit I was immediately intrigued, because somewhere in the back of my mind, I recognized that “The Waffle House Index” is an actual (though unofficial) metric that FEMA uses in the aftermath of major storms, like hurricanes and tornadoes. It may sound ridiculous, but it does actually provide some important information for FEMA in its recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Just What Is The Waffle House Index?

The simplest way to explain the metric is that it relies on understanding how many Waffle House restaurants are still open in the wake of a major natural disaster. There are three levels to the Waffle House Index: Green, meaning all Waffle Houses are open and providing full menus and service. Yellow means that restaurants are open, but serving a limited menu due to power outages or limited supplies. Red, the worst case scenario, means that the Waffle Houses in the path of the disaster are closed completely.

Former FEMA official Craig Fugate coined the term after Hurricane Charley in 2004. His basic philosophy is that if Waffle House is fully open, the community is doing OK; if the menu is limited, FEMA needs to help; and if the restaurants are fully closed, there are serious problems that need to be addressed. He has also admitted that the metric is much more effective in the southern US, as the chain has a pretty limited presence in the north. He learned that you can’t really sub in another chain, either, as Waffle House has a strong corporate philosophy to get the restaurants up and running as quickly as possible.

Now There Is A Movie Based On It

The term is coming to a theater near you soon. Apple, together with Plan B, has announced the movie, starring Navarrette. Louis Paxton, whose new movie, The Incomer, hits theaters this month on the 2026 movie schedule, is set to direct and Andrew Nunnelly will write it. Not much as been revealed about the plot, except that, according to Deadline, it will be Navarrette’s character “works the graveyard shift at her local Waffle House with a storm coming.”

I guess that much should have been obvious, but it also sounds like there could be some twists and turns along the way.

I’m actually glad to see this attention being brought to the Index and the restaurant chain, which has occasionally been featured in other movies. It’s long been known in the South that Waffle Houses never close (one of the many things Anthony Bourdain loved about it) and their ability and willingness to stay open has often been something important for communities dealing with disaster. Not only is it a sign of hope and normalcy, but more importantly, they become a place where someone can get a hot meal under difficult circumstances.

Meanwhile, can catch Navarrette in Obsession with a Peacock subscription right now, while we wait for The Waffle House Index.

Inde Navarrette’s year somehow keeps getting bigger. Obsession turned her into one of 2026’s breakout stars, here character is even headed to Halloween Horror Nights, Marvel came calling for its upcoming X-Men movie, and now she is heading to Studio 8H for her first crack at hosting Saturday Night Live, ahead of its 2026 TV Schedule premiere of its 52nd season. That would be intimidating enough before you remember she landed the Halloween episode. But the young star is taking notes from past host Taylor Swift.

Navarrette is already doing some homework. While answering questions on the red carpet, the 25-year-old actress told Entertainment Tonight in a clip shared on its official TikTok that she has been jotting down sketch ideas and looking to Taylor Swift's 2009 hosting job. In the clip below, Navarrette said she grew up watching SNL and wants to arrive with her own material, much like the Pop Star allegedly did.

That makes me even more curious about what she brings to the episode. Plenty of hosts arrive at SNL and wisely put themselves in the hands of people who write live sketch comedy every week. Navarrette sounds ready to show up with a notebook, and she has a pretty good model in mind.

The Superman & Lois alum said she heard Swift wrote her own opening when she hosted in 2009, which encouraged her to take a similarly hands-on approach. She explained:

Swift set one heck of a high bar. At 19, she hosted and served as a musical guest, then opened the show with “Monologue Song (La La La),” an original song poking fun at her own tabloid life. Seth Meyers later remembered Swift essentially arriving with the whole thing ready to go, calling it a “perfect SNL monologue.”

No pressure, Inde.

Navarrette will host the Oct. 31 episode with Gracie Abrams as musical guest, which feels almost suspiciously well timed for the star of one of this year’s biggest horror movies. NBC confirmed the Halloween booking as part of SNL’s first batch of Season 52 hosts. The writers have plenty to work with before Navarrette even opens that notebook.

Obsession gave the internet a new horror movie favorite and put its lead in a much bigger spotlight. Now she also has an upcoming Marvel movie role hanging over the episode, which means MCU jokes are practically inevitable. Throw in Halloween, and I would be shocked if she makes it through the night without fake blood or super suits being used somewhere.

Still, I like that she wants to bring ideas rather than simply waiting to see what gets handed to her Monday morning.

Swift’s 2009 episode worked because the monologue sounded unmistakably like her. She joked about Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner and the Kanye West VMA disaster using the thing she already knew how to do better than almost anyone: write a song.

Navarrette does not need to recreate that trick. Taking the same ownership over the opportunity, though, seems like a pretty solid lesson to steal.

But ultimately, whatever she decides to do, we will have to wait and find out what made it into her memo pad when Navarrette makes her SNL hosting debut Oct. 31 on NBC, then streams for everyone with a Peacock subscription.

Disney acquiring 20th Century Fox gave fans their wish to have the X-Men join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fast forward several years later, and that reboot is finally taking shape, with director Jake Schreier at the helm. The X-Men cast is also filling out and, as part of that, Obsession’s Inde Navarrette is playing Rogue. There's a lot to consider with the beloved character and, as of late, I've been wondering how Navarrette will approach the superhuman’s southern accent. Thankfully, her take on that proves just how seriously she's taking her MCU role.

Fans’ original guesses regarding who Inde Navarrette would play in X-Men included characters like Mystique, Kitty Pryde, Laura Kinney and Psylocke. At this point, though fans seem psyched that she'll likely be playing the mutant with white-highlighted hair and the ability to absorb powers. Just recently Navarette caught up with ET and was asked about what she's thinking in regard to Rogue's southern way of speaking. And it sounds like she's really been doing her homework:

I’m glad the 13 Reasons Why actress is really giving thought to the character's accent. During the first installment of 20th Century Fox’s X-Men movie series, Anna Paquin’s version of Rogue had a slightly southern accent. However, as the movies went on, that accent essentially became non-existent.

So it's great that Navarrette -- along with her collaborators -- are seeking to accurately portray the young superhero as presented in the comics. It's also sweet that she's looking to draw on her own southern roots as a way of informing her performance. Not all southern accents are the same, of course, so she will indeed need to zero in on that Mississippi dialect for the upcoming Marvel movie.

I’ve got to say that I’m excited for a new Rogue. As much as I love Anna Paquin’s portrayal, the famed Marvel character is completely underused in the Fox movies. She's either portrayed as a damsel in distress or a solemn young women struggling with her powers being a curse rather than a gift. My hope is that Navarette potrays the character with the vigor and wit she possesses in the comics.

Rogue aside, Marvel Studios is crafting quite a lineup for its X-Men film in terms of both cast and characters. Joining Navarette is Sadie Sink, who reprises her role as Jean Grey from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Kit Connor (Cyclops), Christopher Abbott (Professor X), Maya Boyd (Storm), Samara Weaving (Emma Frost) and Adam Driver (Mister Sinister). Talk about a sweet ensemble.

I'm exciting to see all of these MCU newcomers take on their roles, but I'm particularly eager to see Navarrette take on the mutant Southern Belle. Should the actress truly commit to her craft, the first time she says "Sugah!" could be downright perfect.

See Inde Navarrette in the upcoming X-Men movie, which hits theaters on May 5th, 2028. You can also revisit the original film franchise that started it all using a Disney+ subscription.

The more I think about it, the more I realize Obsession is my favorite project on the 2026 movie schedule so far. It’s pretty much perfect. But every movie is the result of a long list of production choices that have to go right along the way. Writer/director Curry Barker just revealed how test screenings led to its final form, and what a great story!

On Friday night, Curry Barker and our Freaky Nikki, Inde Navarrette, returned to the place where Obsession first premiered about a year ago to reflect on the film with fans. Here’s what he revealed at this year's Toronto International Film Festival screening:

Audiences at Obsession test screenings were frustrated with Bear, which is how it’s supposed to be. But Barker did decide to do reshoots after getting this feedback. As he added, per Deadline:

Wow, I love this behind-the-scenes insight from Curry Barker. Rather than cater to their requests to have Bear be perhaps a more sympathetic character, he took a hard right. As the screening’s moderator added, Bear is a “passive antagonist” who’s in the wrong greatly because of his inaction.

Curry Barker has spoken before about Bear’s arc as a character. In the Obsession DVD commentary, the writer/director said that he thinks Bear is “in denial” for most of the movie. He also said that in the beginning it’s easier for Bear to believe that Nikki “really does like him” than to accept the horrors he’s inflicted on his friend.

While Obsession could have been about a more active character who is trying and failing to help Nikki get better, it wouldn’t be the same. Much of what makes it so good and scary is Bear allowing his wish with Nikki to work in his favor for a while.

Thankfully, Curry Barker made the right decisions with Obsession. It’s not only one of my favorites of the year, but one of the big success stories among 2026's movies. The film has racked up $515 million worldwide against a production budget of $750k. And now it's even getting some award buzz.

You can watch Obsession right now for yourself with a Peacock subscription or on VOD and physical platforms. You can also look for Nikki at Universal Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Since Obsession is one of my favorite 2026 movies, I was over the moon when I learned that the movie would be part of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights festivities at Universal Studios Hollywood. The movie came out too recently for the theme park to craft a haunted house for the viral scary movie, but they did have time to make Nikki a roaming character at the parks. Well, I went to HHN with the hopes of seeing Nikki, and I want to talk about my experience.

What Happened When I Tried To Find Nikki At Halloween Horror Nights

I had the chance to visit HHN during its opening night this past Thursday, and as usual I had a blast. I had nine houses to see in seven hours and some spooky snacks to try, but my eyes were very much peeled for Nikki the whole time. Unlike other characters in the parks, from what I knew about the roaming characters, it was crafted like a Where’s Waldo situation. There’s also a password going out every night on Universal’s Instagram, and the first 100 people who utter it to Nikki get a gift.

I had heard she had been seen by the Sinners haunted house queue, Krusty Land and the front of the park, and I spent time at all the above, but I never once saw my new favorite horror character. It was a bummer, but at least I got something called a One Wish Churro!

My Disappointment Aside, I Think It's A Genius Move

Because sightings of Nikki at HHN have been all over my social media feed lately, I thought I would find her no problem. Let my experience be a reminder to other guests that finding Nikki during your HHN visit isn’t guaranteed. You have to be in a lucky “right place, right time” situation to find her, unless you literally make it your mission to track her down.

While I had hoped to have my own moment with Nikki, I think HHN's decision to make the Obsession lead a roaming character is genius. The whole night I was seeing women with long, straight brown hair and black clothing and doing a double take, thinking this time it might be Nikki, and I’ve never had that experience at HHN before. It’s pretty amazing to me that a character who is all but normal aside from her possession-like performance is one of the most sought-after horror icons of the year.

Throughout my visit to HHN, there was also an overwhelming amount of people in Obsession-themed merchandise as well. Seeing as how popular Nikki from Obsession surely is among horror fans, I have a feeling an Obsession-themed full-on house could happen next year, and I hope Inde Navarrette gets in on it by reprising her role.

If you’re going to HHN this year, I wish you well on your search! The event runs from now until November 1.

Ever since Obsession became one of the most talked about horror movies among 2026 releases, fans have been asking for it to be part of Halloween Horror Nights. And, Universal Studios made it happen for those visiting the Hollywood location this season as a roaming scare actor. As the theme park’s spooky event gets ready to open its doors this week, we have our first look at Nikki.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights event starts on Thursday, but team members got to experience it early already, and there were a lot of Nikki sightings. Check this out:

There she is! We knew already that we’d be getting Nikki from the Obsession ending, but now we can see the full vision come to life. The scare actor is wearing the same outfit Inde Navarrette’s character wears during the final scene when she has Sarah’s tattoos and her face is covered in blood. She’s holding a brick around, quoting lines from the movie, and even did the famous backwards walk. Here’s another sighting:

You can definitely tell these actresses really studied Inde Navarrette’s performance before going out there. The character’s presence at the event has been described as a Where’s Waldo situation, so fans are going to have to keep their eyes peeled for her. Here’s one more:

While Obsession definitely deserves its own house too, the truth is the movie came out just three months ago, and there wasn’t enough time for the Halloween Horror Nights team to make one that quick. But, cool is it that they found a way to give the movie a presence at the Universal Hollywood event? Oh, and there's also a snack called the One Wish Churro there too. It comes in a One Wish Willow box and is covered in chocolate cookie sugar.

Before it was announced Nikki from Obsession would be at the event, Inde Navarrette said getting to “do a couple days” where she’s Nikki at HHN would be a “dream” for her. The actress is a big fan of going to Horror Nights and said she goes “every year”. I wonder if she will reprise her character during HHN this year!

Outside of Obsession, tons of fan-favorite horror properties are at Universal Studios Hollywood this year. Sinners has its own house, along with there being one for the final season of Stranger Things, Hellraiser Evil Dead Burn and Art the Clown is taking over this year’s Horror Tram. CinemaBlend just went to Orlando’s version of the event, and we gave a glowing review for Hellraiser's house in particular.

Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights opens this Thursday and will continue through November 1. You can grab tickets at Universal Studios Hollywood’s website now.

There’s always something to get excited about when it comes to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. But over the weekend, my favorite horror movie of 2026 was added to the festivities. It was announced that Nikki from Obsession is going to be roaming around Universal Studios Hollywood this spooky season. What’s even more exciting to me is the way Inde Navarrette wants to get involved.

What Inde Navarrette Has Said About Being Part Of HHN

Obsession’s part in HHN was revealed during the horror convention Midsummer Scream on Sunday evening in Long Beach, California. But a couple of months ago, Inde Navarrette actually spoke about her love of the theme park seasonal event. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, the breakout actress said it was her “dream” to see Obsession be part of Halloween Horror Nights. She also said this:

Now, this year Obsession isn’t getting a full-blown house. The movie only came out a few months ago, and it takes longer than that to craft its haunted houses – though I imagine it could happen someday. But I love the idea of Navarrette making an appearance at Universal as Nikki to fill in for the scare actors for a shift.

Navarrette mentioned that time when Johnny Depp surprised fans by appearing as Jack Sparrow on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride back in 2017. But this also makes me think of when Lupita Nyong’o reprised her Us role for the Jordan Peele movie’s house back in 2019. And it was awesome. Take a look at the HHN YouTube to see that appearance.

Anyways, Navarrette also said at the time that she goes to Hollywood Horror Nights “every year”. She shared that she gets through it by imagining herself “as the biggest man ever” and telling herself, “I’m a thug! I’m the scariest person in here!” Funny enough, the character she helped craft is surely going to lead to a lot of screams. Wild, right?

How Nikki From Obsession Is Going To Haunt HHN

If you’re curious about how Nikki is going to show up at HHN, the creative director and executive producer of the event did talk about it at Midsummer Scream. In John Murdy’s words:

This is genius. I’m just going to be on edge the whole night over whether Nikki is going to show up out of nowhere. If you’re curious about how you might recognize her, Murdy also said this (per Inside Universal):

Yep, that’s perfect, and I want to meet her while at HHN now, even though I’ll probably freak out. Obsession is just one of many exciting properties coming to Hollywood this year. There’s also going to be a Sinners house, one based on Hellraiser, Stranger Things 5 and the latest Evil Dead movie. Plus, this year’s Terror Tram will be hosted by Terrifier. Halloween Horror Nights is at Universal Studios Hollywood from September 3 to November 1.

Obsession might have just been on the 2026 movie schedule, but it already feels like it's going to spark a longtime discussion among movie fans. For example, did Bear have a shot with Nikki? And did he get what he deserved? There’s a lot to go over. Well, Michael Johnston, the actor behind Bear, just answered a more lighthearted question about his character and how he was actually involved in it.

Early in Obsession, when Bear and his friends are at their local bar’s trivia night, we learn that his signature drink is a Piña Colada. When he orders it, it leads Nikki to pause and chuckle a little bit. She comments with “I like a man who’s in touch with his feminine side” before Bear gets a little defensive. Here’s what Johnston had to say about the scene:

Liking a sweet drink is one thing, but a Shirley Temple paints him as a lot more naive than the Piña Colada does. The small detail in the script led Johnston to speak up on set and ask that his order be changed. As the actor added in the interview with Marriska Fernandes:

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel like you’re on a tropical island while at trivia night with friends. Though it’s definitely a bit of an unexpected pick at a place where most people are probably having beers. Plus, your friend/crush Nikki has just ordered tequila shots. Bear’s reasoning is that he doesn’t love the taste of alcohol, which plays a bit better than him going with a completely virgin drink.

As Johnston recalled, his co-stars behind the roles of Sarah and Nikki threw in some ideas for other “girly” drinks that Bear might order. Ultimately, it sounds like Johnston got the final say.

Both picks help add some character to the movie’s leading role, but the Piña Colada definitely feels a bit more grounded and true to the character. Isn’t it funny how one line in a movie can really change how we feel about someone? I think the moment kind of speaks to the softness of the character and perhaps a pattern of not wanting to swallow hard truths. He was similarly afraid of rejection from Nikki, and chose to make the cursed One Wish Willow wish instead.

You can currently rewatch Obsession in all its terrifying glory with a Peacock subscription. I know I just did to test out a theory about Nikki and it was even better on a second viewing.

Obsession is the 2026 movie release of the year as far as I’m concerned, and I think a lot of that has to do with all the discussion the horror movie has inspired in its audiences. I’ve seen all sorts of Obsession theories since seeing it and being haunted by it. There’s one in particular I really needed to put to the test during my rewatch. I had to know if the mirror theory holds up. SPOILERS are ahead!

What’s The Obsession Mirror Theory?

I’ve been seeing this everywhere. Apparently, loads of people are convinced that whenever Wish Nikki looks into a reflection of some kind, she briefly becomes her true self. According to theorists, that’s actually why Wish Nikki holds the vase in front of her face when she’s watching Bear sleep from the corner of the room. There’s a mirror just to the right of her, and perhaps she’s stopping the real Nikki from escaping the grips of the curse for a moment?

Some fans also think that when Nikki hits herself with the bottle during the party sequence, it’s because of the reflection of the bottle. It caused her to revert, and maybe Wish Nikki is fighting back by hitting herself with it. I found this theory to be really interesting and perhaps plausible because I do recall Nikki randomly and suddenly acting as herself throughout the movie, and wondered if there was a trigger.

I Have Thoughts On The Theory After Giving It A Rewatch

Now that Obsession is available to stream at home, I could finally pause and rewind during my latest viewing to really check out this theory. I did notice that the first time Wish Nikki kind of switches back, she could be looking briefly into a side-view mirror when it happens. However, another time it happens, she’s literally closing her eyes and kissing Bear.

In the party scene, when she snaps back to life, it seemed to me more like she was looking at Bear before it happened. I also don’t know how she would have really looked at a reflective surface before she asked Bear to kill her in the dead of the night. In other words, I just don’t see enough evidence to agree here – though I will give it to theorists, it’s a solid concept.

When I talked to Inde Navarrette for Obsession, she did shed some light on her thoughts about when the real Nikki vs. Wish Nikki appear. When she shared her thoughts on why what happens to Nikki is not a demonic possession, she said this:

Navarrette also said that she thinks Nikki “gained strength over time” and was fighting the wish. With that in mind, I could see how things like a kiss or how she’s acting at the party might trigger the real Nikki to peep through this metaphorical “sheer material.” No matter how you slice it, the situation Bear puts Nikki into with the One Wish Willow is absolutely horrifying. I love that there are so many ways one can theorize how the mysterious stick works.

Obsession is the Cinderella story that inspires people to actually go after their dreams, not just dream. It’s a huge box office hit with potential for sequels. I heard a lot about the film before seeing it.

Therefore, I had expectations for Obsession. One was that the plot showed more of Bear’s (Michael Johnston) problematic behavior than Nikki’s (Inde Navarrette) psychotic behavior. I expected Bear to be a villain, but I wasn’t expecting him to make so many bad decisions for love.

Bear was definitely the problem, but in ways I wasn’t expecting.

Warning: Obsession spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

Bear Had Plenty Of Opportunities To Express His Feelings To Nikki, But Chose Not To

I think Bear had a chance with Nikki. One of the moments that stunned me was when Nikki asked Bear if he had feelings for her. He dismisses her question like it’s silly. Then he makes the wish. Additionally, he said he wanted her to love him more than anyone in the whole world. That's generally such an extreme wish that it could only come with major repercussions.

You would want your partner to love you, but not more than anyone else. That’s naturally going to lead to codependency issues. Bear had the chance to tell Nikki he liked her, and the fact that she asked meant there was a chance she might like him too. I understand the anxiety of confessing love and risking rejection, but that’s better than making a dangerous wish. Nikki asking him whether he likes her just makes his wish even sadder and more insane.

Bear's More Obsessed With Nikki Than She Is With Him, And Proves That Repeatedly

Bear has the opportunity to erase the wish. He doesn’t want to do that because then he will really have to let Nikki go. Despite her unhinged behavior, he still wants her. It’s only when she becomes too crazy and less and less attractive that he finally wants to escape her entirely. Bear has always been the one fixated on her, which is why he makes the wish.

He still wants to be with her, even after her crazy behavior, which shows he’s more obsessed with her. His decisions are his free will; hers are controlled.

He Constantly Makes Cowardly Decisions

It starts with him not telling her his feelings and then spirals. He tries to stop Nikki, but only after things escalate, and he becomes complicit in her crimes. He also fears her. Nikki became so deranged that I can see why even horror movie fans are scared to watch, but Bear”s actions are a lot scarier. He has opportunities to stop things but decides not to or can’t communicate well enough to save himself from his ultimate fate. I think the Obsession ending is satisfying because Bear’s death allows Nikki to be free. She’s traumatized and will likely go to prison or be on the run for the rest of her life, but she now has control of her body and mind. That’s not a happy ending, but the best she can get currently.

Rent or buy Obsession on Amazon.

The horror genre has been thriving for years now, to the delight of fans like me. Obsession became a wild box office success this year, and has made household names out of its cast, especially Nikki actress Inde Navarrette. She recently confirmed she met with director Jake Schreier, who will helm the new X-Men movie. And fans think they know which mutants she could play in that upcoming Marvel movie.

After Obsession's insane success, moviegoers are curious about what's next for Navarrette, and if she'll be recognized during Awards Season like Weapons' Amy Madigan. During an interview with Nylon, the 25-year-old actress was asked if she'd do a Marvel movie, responding with:

She also confirmed to the outlet that she's already met with Jake Schreier, who directed Thunderbolts* and will once again be behind the camera for the developing X-Men movie. This news turned heads for fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order and can't wait for mutants to finally take center stage.

A thread over on Reddit responded to the news that Navarrette met with Schreier, with folks sounding off about which X-Men character they think she'd be great playing. The responses read as follows:

• ​Inde is my top choice to play Mystique. The woman has a REALLY expressive face that could portray a lot of great emotion even with the makeup.
• She would definitely make a great Laura Kinney.
• I'd rather they keep Dafne Keen who's just 21 as Laura in the reseted universe and cast Navarrette as Kitty Pride.
• Shes Psylocke for me.

Clearly there's a ton of love for the X-Men, and fans are hyped about the idea of Inde Navarrette joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We'll just have to wait and see if she actually joins the cast of Schreier's developing blockbuster, and if any of the above casting guesses end up being legit.

Out of the four characters listed above, I think I'm most inclined to see Navarrette as Mystique. She was basically playing two characters in Obsession, which shows how transformative she can be. Of course, she'd have some big shoes to fill thanks to the role previously being played by Rebecca Romijn and Jennifer Lawrence. Although I could honestly see her as X-23, Psylocke, or Kitty Pride as well. Talk about versatility.

For years, mutants were noticeably missing in the MCU, but Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox finally opened the door for the X-Men to join the fun. Since then, characters have been used here and there, and the OG actors from Fox's franchise will appear in the next Avengers movie. But Schreier is expected to bring in a new group of actors for his movie.

It's currently unclear when the X-Men movie will hit theaters, but a handful of mutants will appear in Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Obsession, it's available for rent or home purchase now and will arrive on Peacock on July 17th.

The horror genre continues to be wildly popular and profitable, to the joy of fans like me. Case in point: Curry Barker's Obsession which crushed at the box office and is one of the best horror movies in recent memory. Fans are eager for a sequel, and Nikki actress Inde Navarrette offered an A+ idea that I hope the filmmaker and studio should consider. Let's break it down.

While Barker teased that One Wish Willows will be part of his next movie, fans like me want to see the Obsession franchise continue with more upcoming horror movies. The pressure would be on to deliver, but in an interview with Nylon Navarrette offered an A+ idea about how the property could continue without a traditional sequel about Nikki. In her words:

Honestly, this is a killer idea. While there are som fans curious about what happened to Nikki after Obsession's ending, Inde Navarrette thinks that it should be an anthology series rather than a traditional sequel film. Instead we'd follow new characters every episode using a One Wish Willow, and the terrifying shenanigans that might occur with different wishes.

Curry Barker was offered money to change Obsession's story and offer Bear some redemption, and he (smartly) decided not to. So if he thinks that continuing the franchise would work best as an anthology series I'm inclined to agree. Navarrette is certainly on that same page.

I'd love to see another Obsession movie that focuses on an entirely different wish altogether. Maybe it could be about someone wishing for fame, only to see the dark reality of mass obsession. Or perhaps the wish is something even more insidious and spiteful. The possibilities are truly endless, and the director's strong vision has me at ease about whatever he might be planning.

The wild critical and box office success of Obsession is one of the biggest movie stories of the year, so it seems inevitable that the burgeoning franchise will continue at some point in the future. But the pressure will be on for the director/writer to craft another surprising movie full of scares and comedic beats. Hopefully Barker gets to work on a follow-up movie sooner rather than later, and gives fans like me some information about what' she's got planned.

Obsession is currently available to rent or purchase digitally as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll have to see if the movie's wild success ends up translating to nods this Awards Season. After Sinners and Weapons won Oscars, the genre is seemingly getting more respect.

Let me tell you. I love horror, but it took everything in my power to go see Obsession.

That's because its reputation precedes it as being a scary movie, so I was 100% terrified to see it. Then I did see it, and…I thought it was hilarious. I mean, I laughed probably 50% of the film’s runtime.

However, when I told my friend that I found it more funny than scary, he said, “Naw, man. It was terrifying.” I just wondered how two people could have such wildly different reactions to the same movie. Then it hit me…

My Friend Was Once In A Relationship That I Think Gave Him PTSD

I think we’ve all had at least one friend who was in a terrible relationship. I'm talking about a “You need to get away from this person,” kind of courtship. And yes, my aforementioned friend was in a relationship like this for YEARS. All of us told him, “She's no good for you, man,” as she was manipulative, overbearing, and selfish. So, I think my friend was definitely getting PTSD when watching Nikki (Inde Navarrette) go psycho on Bear (Michael Johnston).

Now, unlike Bear, my friend didn't make a selfish wish on a One-Wish Willow to be with this woman. Instead, I'm not sure how they met. I just know that once they did, she was with my friend CONSTANTLY. Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as a lot of my friends got girlfriends and lost touch, only to get married and have kids.

That said, this woman was driving my friend insane, and she'd sometimes both physically and emotionally abuse him. Thankfully, after YEARS of this kind of poor treatment, they both walked away from each other. In that way, I think my friend was definitely reliving some of those bad memories when he watched Obsession. That said…

I've Never Been In A Relationship With An Obsessive Girlfriend, So I Found The Film Funny

There are a lot of creative theories about Obsession (some even think that Bear might have had a shot with Nikki if he just told her his feelings), but I think most people come out of the film feeling bad for Nikki, and that Bear is the true antagonist. So, yes, I definitely felt horrible for everything Nikki had to experience (yes, even after that scene).

However, I've also never had any woman be “obsessed” with me. So, I found most of Nikki's outlandish moments to be comical. For instance, there's a moment when Bear wants to go to a “guys night out,” and when he tells Nikki, who’s taking a shower, she shuts off the water abruptly, and there’s this loud noise. Now, I've seen a lot of horror movies, but none where somebody turning off the shower could be considered a jump scare.

Or, what about that infamous scene when Nikki is crying in the corner? Yes, her uncanny valley expression was creepy, but I also found it funny that she was watching Bear while he slept. So, I guess the fact that I found Obsession funny while my friend found it scary just means one thing…

I Think It's A Very Different Movie If You Find It Relatable, From Either Nikki Or Bear's Perspective

I’ve heard a lot of women speak out about how they’ve known men like Bear who seem nice on the surface, but are actually not nice people, and that they understand Nikki’s pain of being controlled. I’ve also heard men chime in and say that Bear doesn’t actually really “see” Nikki, and only sees an idea of what he thinks she is, or what he wants her to be.

I love all of these interpretations, and I think this film really resonates with people (and possibly terrifies them) if they see themselves in either Nikki or Bear’s shoes, as my friend did.

Personally, I couldn’t relate (especially since it’s now harder for me to connect with characters who are much younger than me), so I found all of it quite humorous.

So, did you find Obsession to be funny, scary, or both? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Horror is my favorite genre, and I’ve seen SO many classic horror flicks.

That said, I’m also a big chicken, and there are some horror movies that I absolutely cannot bring myself to watch. Case in point, the horror movie that everybody seems to be buzzing about these days, Obsession, which fans have been talking about endlessly ever since it debuted.

Now, given how much I love horror, I feel like I HAVE to see this movie, but…I just can’t! At least not while it’s still currently in theaters. Here’s why.

My Biggest Fear Is Scary Faces, And All I've Been Seeing Online Is Scary Faces!

Okay, so my best friend randomly messaged our friend group the other day with “Man, Obsession is freaky,” and I didn’t really pay him much mind since my friend watches all kinds of freaky things, so that comment didn’t really register with me. But then…I saw a YouTube Short of Obsession, and the female character, Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette (whom everybody keeps saying deserves an Oscar nomination), was just standing in the corner in one scene with a SUPER scary face.

And, would you believe that I had to watch about five other happier shorts just to get over that one scene, which STILL bothers me? Because listen, scary faces are my absolute nightmare. It’s the reason why I can’t watch either of the Smile movies, and why one scene in particular in The Orphanage makes it impossible for me to forget.

From just that one scene alone in Obsession, I don’t think I would make it through the entire movie without sleepless nights for weeks. Especially since one person commented on the short that they kept picturing Nikki standing at the corner of his bed after he went home from seeing the movie. Oh, and speaking of which…

Plus, Horror Fans Keep Calling This The Scariest Movie They've Seen In A Long Time

Here’s another thing that gives me pause. All I’ve been reading about online is that even people who LOVE horror movies have been scared watching Obsession. Our very own Corey Chichizola wrote about how there’s one scene in particular that still haunts him days later (I didn’t even want to READ what scene that was). And, as I’ve already mentioned, somebody wrote about how they pictured Nikki standing by their bedside at night, which gives me serious Paranormal Activity vibes (to which I’ve seen all of those).

I can’t lose sleep over horror movies anymore. I just can’t. I barely sleep as it is these days, and the last thing I need is to wake up one night and think that I’m seeing Nikki standing by my bedside with some uncanny valley expression on her face.

So, as much as I feel like I need to see Obsession since I want to be a part of the conversation, I feel like I can't. At least, not yet anyway, which brings me to my last point.

My Solution: I'll Wait Until It's Streaming, And Then I’ll Watch It In Broad Daylight With The Sound Off

Okay…so make fun of me all you want, but my solution is that I’m going to watch it when it eventually comes home, so that the sun is beaming through my window, and I can watch it with the sound off so I don’t hear any scary noises. Is this cowardly? Yes. Is it the only way that I’m able to beat most Resident Evil games, like the recent Resident Evil Requiem? Also yes.

Because, didn’t I already tell you at the start? I’m a big chicken! Yes, I love horror (and most horror movies don’t scare me in the slightest), but every so often, there’s a horror flick that TERRIFIES me (Like Hereditary), and I regret watching it for days afterward.

So, since Obsession is doing so well in theaters, I may have to wait a while before it comes home, but once it does, I’ll finally watch it. Wish me luck!

Not only is Obsession one of the best horror movies I’ve seen in a while, but it’s also very frustrating for a key reason. At the start of the film, viewers know Bear has a crush on his friend, Nikki, and wants to let her know it, yet he’s afraid to tell her how he feels. One night, when he’s driving her home from trivia, he has the chance to shoot his shot but ultimately doesn’t and curses her by using something called the One Wish Willow. To say it all goes downhill from there is almost an understatement. But would he have had a shot with her in the first place?

What Would Have Happened If Bear Just Told Nikki His Feelings?

When I did our Obsession interviews for CinemaBlend, I had to get thoughts from the cast, specifically Michael Johnston and Inde Navarette, on what they thought might have happened if Bear had made his crush known to Nikki. Here’s what Johnston thinks:

Wish as I may, wish I might, for a different outcome in Obsession, the reason why it’s so good is because we never truly know if Bear and Nikki could have had a true chance. On that note, Navarrette dropped her assertion:

Ugh, if Bear had only let her know instead of taking away Nikki’s freewill! Of course, to be fair, we also have to consider Bear probably not thinking the trinket he bought would actually grant him his wish, so there’s that. You can check out the pair think over the question in the video below:

Interestingly enough, during our interview with writer/director Curry Barker, he also told us that the scene he went back over to edit the most was the one between Bear and Nikki in the beginning of the movie. So a lot of thought was definitely put into crafting this friendship before everything hit the fan.

How Fans Are Reacting To The Cast’s Thoughts

Obsession has been killing it at the box office the last couple of weeks and, as a result, a number of people have seen it. With that, many are responding to the comments made by Johnston and Navarrette. There are a lot of conflicting thoughts on the subject, and you can get a taste of what people are saying in the comments section:

• “I think she might have liked him, all he needed was the guts to say something to her” - @memories_on_main_street
• “If we believe Sara, Nikki was not into Bear. BUT I do think if he had told her his feelings they could have had a discussion that made him realize he doesn't know Nikki enough to actually care about her, and that maybe Sara is a better fit” - @ssunday.scaries
• “She didn’t like him. I think it was very clear.” - @krystalcrusader
• “All he had to do was to face his fear of rejection and tell nikki that he liked her” - @chrisfunkopop
• “I loved the ambiguity of it. I’m glad that the audience didn’t know whether or not she would've gave him a chance. Esp bc he took that choice away” @alitkzi

Such a debate is a good sign that this is a great movie. There’s so much discussion about Obsession, and I love it! All in all, there's no consensus about what would have happened between Bear and Nikki if the One Wish Willow never came into play, and I have a feeling this is going to be a question movie fans are going to be debating for a long time.

While you’re here, you can check out the Obsession cast’s thoughts on whether it’s a demonic possession movie and what happens after the movie’s ending. And, of course, the film is still playing in theaters if you want to go for another viewing or check it out for the first time.

Obsession absolutely traumatized me… and I say that complimentarily because it’s truly been awhile since a horror movie affected me so much. I think this one's going to go down as one of the best horror movies in recent years, especially given all the conversation it can inspire among audiences. And, when CinemaBlend chatted with the cast and writer/director Curry Barker, they had me thinking more introspectively about what I just watched. SPOILERS are ahead.

Aside from wondering what happens to Nikki after the final shot of Obsession, I also walked out of the movie very curious about the lore of the One Wish Willow. Inde Navarrette, who masterfully plays Nikki, makes one thing clear about the spell her character is put under:

OK, so this clears a lot up for me, because Nikki becomes so evil after Bear uses the One Wish Willow that the flick gives off vibes similar to those of a demonic possession movie. As Navarrette explains, the wish changes Nikki into something new, but the real Nikki is under there somewhere powerless and scared. For me, this logic clarifies the scene midway through the movie that sees Nikki ask Bear to “kill” her. It’s like the One Wish Willow part of her is sleeping, and the real Nikki is jumping out for a moment.

It’s actually scarier for me to think about there being no demons in Obsession, because it emphasizes how Bear’s wish is so messed up that it creates something very unnatural and cursed within Nikki. Curry Barker underlined Navarrette’s point to me with these words:

The fact that Obsession doesn’t involve demonic possession is also a testament to its originality. Of course, there's also the commentary that results from the horrors of Bear wishing for his friend to lose her autonomy as a person and skip to the part where she loves him more than anything. That being said, there’s still a lot of lore from the One Wish Willow that the audience is left to wonder about by the end of the movie. Michael Johnston (who plays Bear) told us this about why he was OK not knowing about all the rules of movie’s dark magic:

Truly, one of the best aspects of Obsession is that it's initiating a lot of discussions. I left the theater going, “Who was that guy on the phone?”, “Has anyone had a good wish with the One Wish Willow?” and “How much did Nikki try to communicate with Bear throughout it?” It’s clearly a winning concept, considering the positive reviews from critics and audiences alike amount to some of the best reactions from any 2026 movie release. (And to think this all started when Barker was watching The Simpsons reruns!)

Whether you've seen Obsession already or not, check it out in theaters now. Horror fans will be so glad they did!

The best horror movies leave the audience affected by what they just watched and thinking on what happens to the characters after the credits start rolling. On that note, ever since seeing writer/director Curry Barker’s critically-acclaimed debut Obsession, I haven’t been able to stop pondering how everything wraps up. When CinemaBlend had the chance to talk to Baker and the film's stars, they broke down for us what they think happens after that terrifying final shot. Let’s get into it.

What Happens After The Ending Of Obsession?

At the end of Obsession, Michael Johnston’s Bear realizes the only thing left to do to stop the nightmares of the One Wish Willow is to end his own life. This comes after he uses the mystical stick to make one of his best friends, Inde Navarrette’s Nikki, to love him more than anything in the whole world. His wish comes true but with terrible results, as Nikki not only becomes obsessed with him but practically evil, even killing their other friends in front of Bear in violent ways.

Once Bear dies, the One Wish Willow curse is broken and Nikki gets a rude awakening as she comes to and sees her best friends all dead around her. During our interview with Curry Barker, he dropped some grim thoughts regarding what happens to Nikki after the events of the film:

Yeah… that sounds about right. It’s rather maddening too because Nikki is the biggest victim of anyone in the story. She was turned into a monster by Bear, because he couldn’t confront his feelings for her. But, obviously, in his defense, he probably didn’t think a magic stick would grant his wish, or take the dark, dark turn that it does. Barker also told us that he’d definitely be interested in making an Obsession follow-up but that it would likely follow a completely different story.

Inde Navarette Shares Her Interpretation Of Nikki

When we asked Navarette for her take, she shared some comments that could definitely serve as food for thought. More specifically, the Superman & Lois alum shared some keen insight into what Nikki’s experience was like while she was under the spell of the One Wish Willow. In terms of her thoughts on what happens after the final shot, Navarette says:

As you might recall in the movie, there are various times at which where Nikki kind of wakes up for a moment and is herself before the One Wish Willow’s dark magic takes over. Presented with this material to play with, Navarette gives a performance that could eventually lead to her being considered one of the greatest scream queens of all time. As far as her character goes, Navarrette thinks that after a while, Nikki comes to realize what’s going on with her, and the ending is the moment we get to see her deal with the grief for the first time. As she continued:

It’s almost better that we don’t see what happens next to Nikki, because it's easy to imagine just how unbelievably sad her life is going to be moving forward. I don’t know how other upcoming horror movies, or even other entries on the 2026 movie schedule are going to top this ending, but I'm definitely open to being proven wrong!

Do yourself a favor and check out Obsession, which is playing in theaters nationwide.

Look, I know we’re not even halfway through the 2026 movie schedule, but after seeing Curry Barker’s Obsession, I’ll be incredibly surprised if any of the other upcoming horror movies this year are more terrifying than this. Once you experience it, you’ll probably find yourself asking how the heck someone came up with this. We got the story from the ingenious writer/director, and The Simpsons is involved.

Remember that episode of The Simpsons when the family gets a hold of a monkey paw that promises to grant them four wishes, all of which backfire on them? I know I do, and a night watching reruns with friends led Obsession's writer/director, Curry Barker, to see the 1991 episode titled “Treehouse of Horror II”. As he told us:

Barker had previously told Variety about Obsession’s connection to The Simpsons, but it’s interesting to hear in CinemaBlend’s interview how the episode played a role in his creative process. As he also shared:

The movie follows a group of longtime friends who all work together and regularly meet for trivia. Within the gang of four, there’s Bear, who’s had a longtime crush on his friend Nikki and is egging on his friend to let her know it. While driving her home one night, he plans to come clean and confess his feelings, but instead, he makes a wish on something called the “One Wish Willow” for her to “love him more than anyone else in the world.”

Nikki not only becomes obsessed with him, but she also becomes an unsettling and unsafe presence in his life. Truly, it’s one of the best horror movies I’ve seen in a while, and Obsession has earned a ton of praise from reviews, which have called it an “increasingly disturbing masterclass” and a “classic horror tragedy.” I’m a huge horror fan myself, and I found myself incredibly stressed and haunted by the material of the film. And here I started the year thinking I’d be disappointed with this year’s scary movie offerings.

To be clear here, Obsession is definitely nothing like a The Simpsons episode in tone. It’s graphic, intense and rather heartbreaking as well. This is the kind of horror movie that sticks with you long after you watch it, and Curry Barker told us this about the process of realizing his vision:

Well, thanks to that and some inspiration from The Simpsons, we wound up with one of 2026's scariest flicks.

You can check out Obsession in theaters starting May 15.

There have been several films to hit the 2026 movie calendar that revolve around relationships gone wrong. From The Drama to Over Your Dead Body to Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. This weekend we’ll add one more with Obsession. The horror movie premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Fest to rave reviews, so as it hits theaters on May 15, what exactly are those reviews saying?

Obsession stars Michael Johnston as Bear, who makes a wish to have his childhood friend and longtime crush Nikki (Inde Navarrette) fall in love with him. Wishes just never turn out the way you hope they will, do they? In the case of the critics, it’s actually Navarrette who they have become obsessed with. Frank Scheck of THR says in his review that Obsession’s fresh spin on the wish fulfillment formula makes it “so fun and so disturbing,” writing:

Timothy Lee of Geeks of Color rates the movie 9 out of 10, calling it one of the best horror movies he’s seen in the past five years. Inde Navarrette’s performance “genuinely left me terrified,” the critic says. More from his review:

So smiling while urinating is not OK? Noted, and moving on.

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting gives Obsession 4 out of 5 skulls, calling it “one freaky movie” that combines a variety of scare tactics and dark humor that keep audiences on their toes. It’s bound to become this year’s horror obsession, Navarro writes, in large part due to Inde Navarrette’s “potently nightmarish” performance. The critic writes:

Nick Schager of Daily Beast calls the horror flick “a curdled stew of nastiness,” with its grim laughs hitting almost as hard as the shocking horror. Of the lead actress, Schager’s Obsession review says:

Chris Bumbray of JoBlo gives it a “Great” 8 out of 10, agreeing with his fellow critics that this movie should put Inde Navarrette on the map. However, he thinks Michael Johnston might actually have the trickier role. Bear is who moviegoers will likely grow to hate, but Johnston portrays the awfulness without losing the character’s humanity. Either way, they both deserve their flowers for what Bumbray calls “a slam-bang indie horror gem.” He writes:

It’s not just these critics who enjoyed the movie, either. Obsession stands with a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, so if wish-fulfillment horror is your thing, definitely don’t miss this one. It hits the big screen on Friday, May 15.

Superman & Lois is returning to Season 4, but it came at a cost. Last month, it was first revealed that Dylan Walsh wouldn’t continue being a series regular on the CW show, and that was followed shortly thereafter by six other actors being cut from the main cast. Well, Inde Navarrette, who’s been playing Sarah Cortez since Superman & Lois premiered in 2021, has revealed we’ll be seeing more of her in Season 4, but it wasn’t all good news she had to pass along.

Let’s start off on a positive note first. Over on Navarrette’s TikTok, a fan asked if she had any update on Superman & Lois Season 4, and she gave the following answer:

Inde Navarrette didn’t identify the other actors who will join her for those roughly three episodes, though I wouldn’t be surprised if she was referring to Emmanuelle Chriqui and Erik Valdez, who play Sarah’s mother and father, Lanan Lang and Kyle Cushing. Even when the main cast cuts were unveiled, it was reported that there was “hope” for these actors to recur or guest star in Season 4. Also keep in mind that these three episodes won’t all necessarily air concurrently; maybe Sarah will only appear in the new season’s first two episodes, and then return for the finale, as an example. Regardless, at least fans can rest easy knowing the Superman & Lois Season 3 finale, which set up major potential for the fourth season, won’t be the last they see of Sarah.

Now let’s get to the potentially bad news. Sarah’s relationship with Alex Garfin’s Jordan Kent has been one of the driving subplots in Superman & Lois, and in the Season 3 finale, the two decided to end their friendship, as they needed to spend time apart to figure out their respective lives on their own. When a different fan told Inde Navarrette that the series needed to “resolve some things with Jordan and Sarah” during those three episodes in Season 4, she posted the below TikTok video:

That’s an expression that screams “You’re out of luck” with that request, although I question whether that’s set in stone. After all, even if the Superman & Lois writers had begun working on Season 4 ahead of the writers strike, it’s doubtful they got too far into plotting the story that will unfold over 10 episodes. Plus, the fact that Navarrette said that the show “almost got cancelled” suggests that Season 4 being a sure thing wasn’t something known months ahead of time. So while it seems like the actress has been informed that Jordan and Sarah’s relationship issues won’t be resolved in Season 4, or perhaps not necessarily to the degree that fans would like, maybe that will change down the line.

So far Superman & Lois’ Season 4 main cast only consists of Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Alex Garfin, Michael Bishop and Michael Cudlitz, the latter of whom debuted as Lex Luthor in Season 3’s penultimate episode. The final minutes of the Season 3 finale saw Hoechlin’s Man of Steel battling Doomsday, a transformed version of the Inverse Superman, a.k.a. Bizarro, on the surface of the moon. Whether or not this show intends to adapt The Death of Superman and kill off the Kryptonian superhero, at least temporarily, remains to be seen, but whatever ends up going down in Season 4, it’ll be with a major reduced presence of familiar faces.

The first two seasons of Superman & Lois can be streamed with a Max subscription, and presumably Season 3 will make it to the platform in the coming months. While we wait for more news on Season 4, keep track of current programming with our 2023 TV schedule. 

Superman & Lois was renewed for Season 4 earlier this week, but like the other shows returning to The CW for the next TV season, it won’t be immune from budget cuts. In addition to Season 4 being comprised of just 10 episodes, the leading lineup of characters is being significantly trimmed down. Dylan Walsh, who plays Sam Lane, was the first to go, and now six more actors have been cut from the main cast.

Emmanuelle Chriqui, Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Tayler Buck and Sofia Hasmik have all been axed as series regulars. Of these actors, Chriqui’s Lana Lang, Valdez’s Kyle Cushing, Navarrette’s Sarah Cortez and Parks’s John Henry Irons had been part of the Superman & Lois main cast since the beginning with Walsh, while Buck’s Natalie Irons and Hasmik’s Chrissy Beppo started out in recurring/guest capacities. On that note, Deadline reports that there’s “hope” for these actors to recur or guest star in Season 4, “subject to interest on their part and availability.”

So with seven actors out, plus Chad L. Coleman’s Bruno Mannheim not sticking around following his Season 3 arc, who does that leave us in Season 4? Well, obviously Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch will continue on, respectively, as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane, and Alex Garfin and Michael Bishop will stick around as their sons, Jordan and Jonathan. Additionally, it’s stated that Michael Cudlitz, who will finally debut as Lex Luthor next week, has been promoted to series regular in Season 4. So that leaves just five lead actors for the next chapter of the Superman & Lois saga, and while it’s entirely possible a few more could join them, it’s pretty clear the main cast won’t be anywhere near as large as it used to be.

Again though, just because seven actors aren’t series regulars anymore doesn’t mean viewers won’t see their characters anymore. It just means that those who do decide to return for Season 4 won’t be seen nearly as often; maybe they’ll just appear on and off throughout the season, maybe we’ll only see them once or twice. At this point, I’m just wondering how Superman & Lois will explain why so many of the show’s familiar faces aren’t around as much or just completely absent. One option that comes to mind is that perhaps the Kents will move back to Metropolis, as almost all these other characters are Smallville denizens.

Hopefully with this much cast trimming and the reduced episode order, enough costs have been trimmed that the show’s VFX budget won’t be impacted. At this point, there’s been no announcement of when Superman & Lois Season 4 will arrive, but there are still two episodes left to go in Season 3. This season’s penultimate episode, “Injustice,” airs next Tuesday, June 20 at 8 pm ET on The CW. Look through our 2023 TV schedule to see what other shows you’re interested in checking out.