Nikki (Inde Navarrette) in Curry Barker’s ‘Obsession’
Focus Features
Obsession is a major hit and TikTok phenomenon, the horror film sparking a flood of memes on the video-sharing platform.
The film is a record-breaker at the box office, with strong word of mouth attracting a steady stream of viewers and inspiring a deluge of fan edits and comedy skits.
Perhaps the film’s virality should come as no surprise, as 26-year-old director Curry Barker understands the internet, having crafted YouTube sketch comedy before pivoting to horror, his channel boasting more than one million followers.
Barker’s comedy instincts are on full display, with Obsession as funny as it is scary, the tone dancing from absurd, to disturbing, and back again—several scenes are both.
Many of the film’s most memorable moments can be freely found on TikTok, recorded in movie theatres, with some clips garnering a significant amount of views.
The film’s online popularity has even resulted in some viewers having their theatrical experience disrupted, with audience members pulling out their phones to film the most popular scenes.
For Obsession, going viral hasn’t been quite as chaotic as the Minecraft Movie’s “chicken jockey” trend, but the film has inspired a variety of memes on TikTok.
What Is ‘Obsession’ About?
Obsession follows Bear (Michael Johnston), who makes a cursed wish and inadvertently creates a monster, transforming his childhood friend, Nikki (Inde Navarrette) into a demonically dedicated girlfriend.
After Bear activates a mysterious, store-bought item known as a “One-Wish Willow,” Nikki’s feelings shift from platonic to till-death-do-us-part, and she can no longer spend a single moment without him.
Nikki’s “love” for Bear is magically imposed and unnatural, causing her to become insanely possessive, unhinged and eventually, extremely violent.
Obsession shows how Bear’s selfish wish removes Nikki’s agency and backfires horribly, destroying his life and eroding Nikki’s sense of self.
Somehow, this dark scenario frequently manages to be hilarious, with the joke on Bear as he desperately navigates his self-imposed nightmare.
‘Obsession’ Inspires Memes On TikTok
Nikki’s melodramatic reactions have inspired plenty of TikTok posts, creators plucking audio from Obsession to create self-deprecating skits and tongue-in-cheek “relatable” content, with many TikTokers seeing a glimpse of themselves in Nikki.
Male viewers are cracking playful jokes about their girlfriends, and women are leaning into the joke, posting TikToks satirizing their own reactions to “boys night” and romantic competition.
Inde Navarrette’s unforgettable performance has fueled the majority of content, her line delivery proving ideal for audio trends.
One standout scene, featuring Nikki yelling, “No, no no,” inside a crowded restaurant after being caught lying about her terminally ill father, has become the non-official sound of the movie, inspiring more memes than any other scene.
The TikTok noise seems to have translated to ticket sales, with the low-budget horror film enjoying a 30% box office boost in its second weekend, a rare feat.
TikTok is obsessed with Obsession, and the online attention has helped turned the film into an extraordinary success story.