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!
