Obsession has emerged as a genuine cinematic phenomenon. Spearheaded by YouTube visionary Curry Barker, this horror breakout is already being studied by studios eager to bottle its lightning-in-a-bottle success. Built on a modest $750,000 budget and pulling in a staggering $294 million globally, the film is a career-defining juggernaut. With Barker already inking an eight-figure deal for future projects and eyeing a fresh take on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, his influence on the genre is just beginning.
While Obsession might not reinvent the narrative wheel, it excels through its visceral atmosphere, sharp lighting choices, and a masterclass in tension. At its core, it serves as a dark, cautionary tale of romance gone awry. A major factor in its critical acclaim is the breakout performance by Inde Navarrette, who marks herself as an undeniable rising talent to watch.
If you were hooked by the film’s blend of warped romance, supernatural dread, and intense character studies, here are 11 films that capture a similar spirit.
11 Misery
Misery remains the definitive portrait of obsessive fandom. Adapted from Stephen King’s classic, the story follows a renowned author (James Caan) rescued from a wreck by a former nurse (Kathy Bates). What begins as a recovery turns into a harrowing hostage situation as her devotion curdles into violent control. It’s an iconic performance that earned Bates an Academy Award, cementing the film’s place in horror history.
10 Talk To Me
Much like Barker, the Philippou brothers transitioned from viral YouTube fame to big-screen horror royalty with Talk To Me. It shares a thematic kinship with Obsession, centering on a group of teens who turn supernatural possession into a reckless social game. When Mia (Sophie Wilde) pushes the boundaries of the spirit world too far, she inadvertently invites a malevolent force into her life, leading to devastating consequences.
9 Companion
Obsession excels at dissecting the darker side of modern dating and the loss of individual agency. Companion tackles these same anxieties through a high-concept, futuristic lens, following a couple whose seemingly idyllic retreat masks a profoundly sinister reality.
8 Smile
Directed by Parker Finn, Smile is another massive hit that successfully turned a disturbing premise into a franchise. While its sequel arguably elevates the craft, the original shares the most DNA with Obsession—specifically in how it weaponizes unsettling facial expressions and inescapable psychological traps. It depicts a world where protagonists are slowly stripped of their autonomy by an overwhelming, malevolent force.
7 Audition
Master filmmaker Takashi Miike delivers a slow-burn nightmare in Audition. After the death of his wife, a widower stages fake auditions to find a new partner, only to fall for a woman whose outward sweetness hides a truly terrifying nature. It is a brilliant exploration of how our desires for companionship can lead us into dangerous, unforeseen territory.
6 Pearl
Ti West’s X trilogy solidified the powerhouse partnership between director and star Mia Goth. Pearl stands as the crown jewel, offering a vivid character study of a woman desperate for stardom on a lonely farm. Much like Inde Navarrette’s work in Obsession, Goth’s performance is a ferocious, committed showcase of unhinged ambition.
5 Weapons
Zach Cregger’s Weapons shares a creative lineage with Obsession, as both directors utilize their backgrounds in comedy to pivot between sharp levity and gut-wrenching horror. Set in the wake of a mysterious, town-wide disappearance of schoolchildren, the film is a masterclass in deconstructing local myths and building suspense through a sprawling, multifaceted narrative.
4 Hellraiser
Obsession plays with the classic “Monkey’s Paw” trope—the idea that our deepest wishes come with a blood-soaked price tag. Hellraiser explores this dynamic through the fabled puzzle box, a doorway to otherworldly sensation that brings forth the sadomasochistic Cenobites. Whether you watch the 1987 original or the recent reboot, the series remains a gold standard for gothic, gory consequences.
3 It Follows
Since its 2015 debut, It Follows has set the benchmark for modern dread. By replacing sudden jump-scares with an unrelenting, slow-moving threat, it redefined the genre. The film centers on a curse passed through intimacy, creating a relentless sense of pursuit that feels deeply personal and suffocating. With a sequel, They Follow, on the horizon, its legacy continues to grow.
2 Perfect Blue
Satoshi Kon’s animated masterpiece Perfect Blue is essential viewing for anyone fascinated by the intersection of fame, obsession, and fractured identity. When a pop star transitions into acting, she finds her sense of self disintegrating under the gaze of a stalker and the pressures of her new career. It is a psychological thriller that blurs the lines between reality and nightmare with terrifying precision.
Source: Polygon
