«"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commissions or revenue from some products sold through these links.".
В in the film "Obsession"« Director Curry Barker uses the classic "love potion" trope to create a dark mirror into the dating world of Generation Z (and young millennials). The film follows an emotionally immature guy named Bear (Michael Johnson at his best) who wishes his best friend Nikki (Indi Navarrette at her best) to "love him more than anything"—a one-sided wish with horrific consequences. Both belong to a generation constantly confronted with accusations of a "sex crisis" that has emerged online during the pandemic and in the wake of the #MeToo movement (Bear, ironically, fears being seen as overstepping boundaries). Sex is certainly part of the problem, but Barker's insightful horror debut understands that the problem lies in a much simpler mystery: the inability to communicate, to be vulnerable; what drives people to live in a fantasy they think is safe.
Bear has created one of these fantasies for himself. Some might honestly call him soft (too sensitive by nature); others might dismiss his timidity as incel-like; but he's paralyzed by the fear of rejection and too insecure to be vulnerable. His fixation on emotional overload prevents him from telling Nikki he likes her, even when the opportunity eludes him at a bar or while driving her home. Instead, he takes the easy way out: buying a so-called "Willow of One Wish" at a thrift store—a wooden wand that, when broken, grants a wish. Unable to express his feelings, he broke the wand in desperation and wished for Nikki to love him. It worked, but Nikki was unable to influence the situation. book "Obsession »"The "nice guy" archetype is mocked to highlight Generation Z's frustration with romantic relationships, fueled by fantasies that show how online communication and repressed desires transform intimacy into a form of possession that is clearly harmful to women.
You might be thinking, "How could he know? He didn't want to hurt Nikki, much less possess her." But that's the problem. Barker criticizes him not only for his inability to communicate, but also for his general unwillingness to help. Midway through the conversation, Bear calls the conveniently located helpline number listed on the box containing the "Willow of One Wish." He в despair, as Nikki is now completely possessed by a twisted, lustful demon who, well, obsessed them. Technically, it's his own fault, but you can still sympathize with him. But then, while pleading with the drug-addicted operator, he hears Nikki (or her soul) screaming in agony on the line—and when the operator asks if he wants to speak to the real Nikki, he hangs up. Are we supposed to believe this is some decent person?
No.
Still from film "Obsession"« Provided by Focus Features.
Unlike many other films, this one places the responsibility on Bear as a wish-fulfiller, yet he constantly sees himself as a victim. Barker could easily have told this story differently: a naive young man seeking love is tortured by a demonic spirit, but the director doesn't spare his protagonist. Bear believes he's doing the right thing by remaining in a twisted and codependent relationship (?), largely because he's afraid to let go of his fantasy.
But why Bear like that? It's much more complicated than just his inattention. Barker builds this story by directly addressing the underlying anxiety facing Generation Z: Are boys overly consumed by pornography, and do they see women as anything other than objects of desire? Are they afraid of punishment because of the #MeToo movement? Or have they simply missed out on important socialization during COVID? The combination of these factors has negatively impacted the generation's sexual activity, a topic of debate (still unresolved) for nearly a decade. Gia Tolentino of The New Yorker questioned this trend; the subtitle of her article stated: "Faced with an abundance of carnal pleasures, Generation Z appears to be losing its appetite.". The Atlantic even declared a full-blown "sexual recession" in 2018. But the problem manifests itself long before we get to the bedroom: no one can talk to each other!
Lack of rapport is a recurring theme throughout the film. Not only is Bear unable to share his thoughts and emotions, but he's also unable to listen to Nikki when she tries to tell him. about their own feelings. His defensive reaction stems from a fear of losing his romantic fantasy, as he deliberately forgets that she is a real person with real feelings. Our increasingly parasocial culture is creating a dating culture distorted by ideals, often so powerful that people are willing to do anything to ignore vulnerability and difficulties.
Still from film "Obsession"« Provided by Focus Features.
The most powerful moments in the film "« Obsession »" occurs when Nikki, obsessed and feverishly consumed by her "love" for Bear, panics. Several times real Nikki sees through the demonic shell that now binds her, and it's here that we see the film's true victim, a girl in genuine pain, still ignored by the boy who claims to love her. This is most evident in one scene where the demonic Nikki falls asleep, but the real Nikki's voice is heard begging Bear to kill her—his response? "What's wrong with being with me?"«
Bear willingly endures all the manifestations of Nikki's obsession—the way she stands motionless and seemingly "stops living" when he leaves the house, the violence she inflicts on herself—and only when she commits murder does he panic and realize this is a problem that needs to be addressed. He returns to the store to buy another Willow Wish, and the owner explains that he can only have one wish—but why doesn't Bear ask Nikki herself to make a wish to break the curse? The advice has little effect, and once again, instead of talking to Nikki, he asks a friend to make a wish, which backfires when the friend wishes for wealth. Bear decides to commit suicide (which will free Nikki) and swallows a bottle of oxycodone, but just then, the demon Nikki shatters the Willow Wish, wishing for Bear to love her just as much. A brief moment of tender paranormal romance is interrupted by an overdose of Bear, which breaks the curse and returns Nikki's soul to her body forever. The real Nikki awakens to a brutal, bloody mess left behind by a man who never once considered what she was thinking.
You may also like
-
Grace Jones's career in photography
-
Michelle Pfeiffer's style evolution over the years
-
Goldie Hawn's style evolution over the years