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Low‑Budget Horror 'Obsession' Becomes International Hit and Cultural Flashpoint

Following strong box‑office returns and vocal preview audiences, critics treat the film as a commentary on codependency, jealousy and Incel‑era gender anxieties.

Overview

  • The film opened in German cinemas on 25 June 2026 after sold‑out preview screenings that generated loud reactions from young audiences.
  • Directed and written by 26‑year‑old YouTuber Curry Barker, the movie was made for roughly $750,000 and has earned reported totals in the mid‑hundreds of millions at international box offices.
  • The premise centers on a shy man who uses a wish to make a colleague love him, a setup critics describe as a psychological horror about controlling relationships rather than a conventional supernatural story.
  • Reviewers across outlets single out Inde Navarrette for a dual, nuanced performance that anchors the film’s emotional and terrifying moments.
  • Industry coverage frames the movie as part of a wider moment where Gen‑Z internet creators cross into mainstream cinema and signals studios may reexamine low‑budget, talent‑driven projects for big returns.