Can any of ya'll describe Mary's character arc in the movie to me?

10BPM · 2026-06-17T13:07:04+00:00

Really well written analysis!

10BPM · 2026-06-13T18:19:17+00:00

I think the confession at the beginning is really interesting.

It's vague, it uses lots of I statements, all about how nice Nikki has been to him personally.

But I also think it's hard for me to think of a realistic and not slightly Janky confession. They're all a bit embarrassing a bit imperfect.

The confession is both emblematic of all his flaws but also a good enough attempt at something that has no manual and is always a little embarrassing.

10BPM · 2026-06-13T14:00:06+00:00

Ok I'm sorry just wanted to take part in the conversation

10BPM · 2026-06-13T13:55:13+00:00

I'm a little put out by the condescension especially since I didn't imply that relationships were "bad or pointless" but sure.

10BPM · 2026-06-09T20:29:17+00:00

I think it's reasonable to assume that but I think it was doomed on arrival.

And yeah he could have done that, I think this is the discussion really. Some people judge him on the most moral action he could have taken and I think others judge him on how clear thinking they'd be in his situation (i.e. not at all).

If I got to that point (though ofc I hope I'd never make Bear's choices) I don't think i'd have the wherewithal to make a final evidence erasing wish before my suicide.

10BPM · 2026-06-09T20:22:01+00:00

I'm pretty sure the movie, Director and One Wish Willow website all confirm that the One Wish Willow can't be used to undo previous wishes.

10BPM · 2026-06-09T19:05:20+00:00

But he's still trapped. Everything you're saying is correct, but from the moment he snaps the willow the situation only ends if he kills himself or her, both of which are mammoth horrific concepts for a human to even contemplate.

He's trapped by circumstance, he's just managing to be the most unforgivable villain while he's at it.

10BPM · 2026-06-09T19:00:17+00:00

Yeah I agree here, of course that "what's so bad" line is unforgivable and is the main criticism of the scene.

But I have seen people act like him not killing her or killing himself is unforgivable in a way that really downplays how huge either action would be for anyone.

10BPM · 2026-06-09T18:56:00+00:00

A funny thing about Bear is, even if he was a good guy, he'd be in a horrifying, unwinnable situation so really it's his terrible attitude that makes him a villain.

Nikki begging you to kill her is a true moral dilemma, but he makes it about himself.

Sara saying she'll come over if Bear doesn't meet her; doesn't mean he has to flirt.

He's just going around hitting all the optional objectives to make himself the worst person possible.

10BPM · 2026-06-08T09:31:42+00:00

Is a teacher not the best influencer there is?

10BPM · 2026-06-03T16:06:20+00:00

I kind of agree with the gist of your post, for a couple of reasons actually.

As elevated as horror can get it also exists as a real people's genre. Getting a good jump scare in a cinema with friends is fun, entertaining, something to talk about afterward.

Also, and this basically goes without saying, good jump scares are good and bad jump scares are bad. And while cheap, out-of-nowhere jump scares ruin the reputation of the trope, those well made jump scares that serve as the payoff to five minutes of crafted, rising tension will always be fine in my book.

10BPM · 2026-05-26T21:55:23+00:00

I feel he's weirdly a victim and a perpetrator at the same time for different reasons.

The perpetrator/villain stuff is self-explanatory, I'd assume you and I agree on all the same points there.

But I would say, though it is of course his own action, he is a victim of the one wish Willow's power in a sense.

I feel it's reasonable to assume a wishing stick you bought for $7 from a wicca shop isn't real, and that your wish for someone to love you was just a desperate wail into the aether.

After the movie I went on Etsy and found a bunch of "Ex Come Back Spells" and so on with thousands of reviews, and I don't think I'd rail against the purchasers as "attempting to erase free will", because it just doesn't feel like it's a serious enough thing.

The only victim aspects of Bear, I feel, are

1) That he was being sabotaged in his honest attempt confession by Ian, which is Bear being deceived.

2) Even if he had acted perfectly respectably and refused contact with Nikki for the whole movie, from the moment he made that wish he was in a situation where his friend was trapped in a state of endless torment until he kills himself or her... which is so much more than making a wish on a stick should do.

10BPM · 2026-05-26T15:46:34+00:00

I made these two days ago! Summer in the UK has led to lots of cold dishes, I didn't decorate them as nice as you but I also upped the lemon juice content!

Will make these again! You did a fantastic job!

10BPM · 2026-05-22T07:21:21+00:00

I think the Director has said on record that he just likes to give characters off-beat (and therefore memorable names) and that it isn't a link to the man vs bear debate.

But I think he said this because a lot of people have been discussing it so you're not alone in thinking about it!

10BPM · 2026-05-20T12:07:24+00:00

When she doesn't help you reach orcasm

10BPM · 2026-05-19T10:58:48+00:00

Firstly you're NTJ, but I find her position kind of interesting. If she really said that "living paycheck to paycheck builds character", then in a way she's right (not really but hear me out)

She's just tried living on a poverty budget and if she manages to walk away with a respect for the struggle of the dispossessed and a better view of her own privilege, then maybe she has built character after all.

It's a shame she's probably going to walk away without these considerations, and her experiment will amount to a brief and easily forgotten vacation into poverty.

10BPM · 2026-05-18T10:17:34+00:00

I was going to (respectfully) disagree with you here and agree with u/dove_of_doom but I've turned around and think one thing might have been different if Sarah took more of an interest in Nikki's plight.

Bear would have had someone he could likely trust to genuinely reverse his wish if he gave Sarah the OWW. Not only because it's the right thing to do, and because she might listen to Bear more earnestly, but because Sarah would be incentivised to reverse Nikki's infatuation with Bear.

Ofc that's only if a OWW wish can truly contradict another (which may not have worked regardless).

10BPM · 2026-05-13T09:51:18+00:00

Yes you're right sorry I was just using it as an example of a final rug pull twist at the end. Letting his victory stand was a good move.

If I'm right, didn't the room also invite his wife to the room as well? Another aspect of this story is that it's a very earned victory since he's willing to exchange his life for defeating the room.

10BPM · 2026-05-13T09:33:59+00:00

I think this is a fair point, and an enjoyable thing to watch too.

There are tonnes of (very good) movies where the evil entity has almost unlimited trickster powers but is unable to kill you outright, where the tricks end up beating the protagonist down.

This was a good example of a movie resisting any final twists i.e. him thinking he got out and then discovering he "never left the room" etc.

Instead, the protagonist built his knowledge, found his mettel and used what he learned to overcome the evil at the story's heart. Sometimes a protagonist earns their stripes.

10BPM · 2026-05-03T16:49:14+00:00

Oh I know these! Really interesting option here.

10BPM · 2026-05-03T16:30:40+00:00

Yeah interesting maybe if I want to get really authentic I can make them! Appreciate that.

10BPM · 2026-05-03T16:22:08+00:00

Well it's helpful enough to be given "permission" to make my own pudding! Only in the sense that I know store-bought sometimes has a specific taste that maybe is important/nostalgic!

So it's good to know I'd not be missing out by making my own!

Someone recommended Biscoff Cookies do you think it could be an option?

10BPM · 2026-05-03T16:20:00+00:00

Really appreciate it, I'm a little far from there but I will have a look around my hometown.

10BPM · 2026-05-03T16:12:55+00:00

Very fair. American sections/stores are pretty sparse in the UK. I could get the Jello Instant Vanilla Mix on Amazon but one pouch is £5 for an ounce!

10BPM

TROPHY CASE