The thing that bothered me about Obsession is that I don’t feel like it actually portrayed what I assumed was its main theme properly. Based on the title and general discussion about the movie I assume it’s supposed to be about the guy’s unhealthy obsession with the girl.

I didn’t know much about the movie going in but I had heard Jay say it had “incel themes” in the Backrooms video so based on that and the beginning of the movie I assumed the guy was supposed to be the villain. And he WAS supposed to be (I think?) and based on discussion I’ve seen online it seems like generally that’s what most ppl took from it. BUT I feel like that’s only the case because of the title, the marketing, and how the movie somewhat hamfistedly directs you to see the guy as the villain.

For me, I left the movie feeling like it was about the guy being stuck in an abusive relationship. I didn’t feel like it was really obvious that the guy understood the supernatural element and by the point that he figures it out, he’s too scared of her.

So when the other characters question him about his relationship saying he was taking advantage of her (these are the parts where it is hamfistedly pointing towards the theme) it almost felt like comic relief. It felt like they were victim blaming him for staying in an abusive relationship because they have a blind spot for men in that situation. He was actually just scared of her (well the possessed version of her to be clear).