Obsession (2026) Review: Dark, Disturbed, and Dubbed to Perfection by Varun Dhawan & Kriti Sanon!
Curry Barker’s Obsession takes the classic, cautionary “be careful what you wish for” trope and turns it into a sharp, disturbing psychological thriller. The narrative anchors itself around Baron “Bear” (Michael Johnston), an introverted music shop employee who spends his days hopelessly pining over his close friend and co-worker, Nikki (Inde Navarrette). Paralyzed by the fear of rejection and unable to confess his true feelings, Bear opts for a supernatural shortcut. When he stumbles across a strange, mystical novelty item known as the One Wish Willow, he snaps it to demand absolute devotion, wishing for Nikki to love him more than anyone or anything else in the world.
At first, the wish delivers what appears to be a dream scenario, transforming Nikki into an intensely affectionate, dedicated partner. However, the initial fantasy sours fast as the magical compulsion corrupts her mind. Nikki’s sudden romance spirals into a manic, possessive fixation that grows increasingly erratic, self-destructive, and terrifying. As her terrifying behavior begins to draw immense danger toward their mutual friends Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) and Sarah (Megan Lawless), Bear comes to a horrifying realization: he hasn’t earned genuine affection, but has instead trapped Nikki inside a mind puppeted by an uncontrollable force. The story cleverly dismantles the myth of the “nice guy,” exposing the toxic selfishness of stripping someone of their emotional agency.
While director Curry Barker excels at crafting an eerie, uncomfortable atmosphere using patient camera work and tense audio design, the narrative stumbles slightly in its final stretch. As the stakes escalate, the logic stretches thin, and the sudden shift toward chaotic violence makes the overall pacing feel somewhat uneven near the end.
What truly elevates the viewing experience, however, is the exceptional Hindi dubbed version featuring lead voiceover performances by Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon. Dubbing Bear and Nikki respectively, the duo delivers an extraordinarily polished vocal performance that elevates the material beyond a standard localization. Kriti captures Nikki’s rapid descent from warm friendliness to frightening, unhinged intensity with pitch-perfect precision, mirroring the physical performance with striking emotional depth. Varun matches her step-for-step, infusing Bear with a blend of nervous charm and unraveling panic that grounds his character’s toxic choices. Their natural dialogue delivery and seamless vocal chemistry are so compelling that they make you completely forget about the original English audio track, transforming Obsession into a deeply engaging thriller despite its minor structural flaws.
Rating: ***
Team Cine Buster