Obsession | A Terrifying Modern Fable

Curry Barker's horror phenomenon has a lot going on beneath the surface

After two months at the top of the Billboard singles chart, the band The Police was interviewed about their new hit song of 1983 to which songwriter and singer Sting remarked:

I think it’s a nasty little song, really rather evil. It’s about jealousy and surveillance and ownership.

It’s about an unhealthy relationship rooted in a possessive mindset that smother loved ones by either suffocating with love through affection or rage.

Its about obsession.

The song was “Every Breath You Take” and, while many were distracted by the earworm tune, the subtly disturbing lyrics crept in. Horror is one of the best film genres for this same phenomena to occur.

Film of the horror genre will attach to someone’s emotions through fear, and then leave the terrified viewer susceptible to the moral, messages, and themes of the story. Well-crafted horror, like that which Curry Baker has crafted here, utilizes the genre to connect to an audience in that very way. Most great horrors root themselves in distorting some natural or common element of everyday life. In this case, Baker makes relationships the subject of distortion. Its an act of genius, as disturbing as it may be.

It is by no means a film for the faint of heart, although most film of such serious nature are. My brother and I spent duration of the film covering our eyes and screaming, occasionally at the scares but more so at the decisions being made. Its a vulgar film that concerns itself with a vulgar topic on an extreme level, which makes it difficult to blindly recommend.

This intensely vivid fable-like storytelling makes it difficult to even consider rewatching the film, which has left me asking myself: why do we as an audience feel the need to judge a film on rewatchability. I myself can think of many films that I’ve seen and have no desire to watch again. Of course, some film were simply bad and not worthy of a rewatch, but these should not be confused with those films so great that a rewatch is not necessary, at least not for a long time. The Human Condition is a particular film, or film series rather, which I have only ever watched once and will likely never watch again unless showing them to someone else. This disinterest isn’t rooted in contempt or poor quality, but the exact opposite; The Human Condition was so perfectly crafted and powerfully depicted that there be no need to rewatch it again, as it hurts too much to see and it was memorable enough to never forget.

There isn’t a month that goes by that I don’t think about those films. Obsession will be another one of those film that I will likely never watch again, not because of a low quality, but because of its extremely strong presence. Yet, due to its thematic importance, it almost seems important to watch for those in a relationship, as the film calls self-awareness and serious consideration to the quality of relationships almost like an examination of conscience via a demonstration of what not to do. It unpacks common issues like codependency, separation anxiety, attachment disorders, borderline personality disorder, and even (the modern age king of all) FOMO.

To obsess is to allow an obsession to surpass all else. God, health, friend and family, all fade out of view as obsession takes control of every thought and action. Baker clearly demonstrated the destructive nature of an obsession, and how it selfishly prioritizes ones own feelings above the feelings of another. He loads this film to the brim with toxic, unhealthy behavior, calling attention to the absurdity. Characters commit the fallacy throughout of justify their own actions by comparing themselves to the equally poor behavior of others. The depth of their relationship is the time spent together in bed. He cares not for her soul, as very deliberately demonstrated at a midway turning point.

Ultimately, for a film so upsetting and disturbing, within lies a resounding message to seek mental help and healthier relationships. It is great seeing a modern ‘Twilight Zone’ adventure in theaters.

(Also, great design of the One Wish Willow box)