In Curry Barker’s Obsession, He does not shy away from depicting violent crime, rape, and manipulation on screen. The Films’ casting and narrative choices are precise and the undeniable portrayal of abuse undertones the lines.
Inde Navarette took on the role of the driven and psychotic captive who assumed the role of a spouse. The film never directly stages a “will you be my girlfriend” exchange, which alludes to the truth about their dynamic. The stark contrast between Nikki’s line delivery and her deliberate micro-expressions lends an unsettling quality to every line delivered. This was especially true for the two horroresque scenes where Nikki was present and actively experiencing rape.
The film accurately depicts how easily the boundary between desire and coercion can become obscured for the rigid male and the unconventional, and free woman. The moments in the film where Bear experiences victory are counterpointed with “Kids” by Current Joys, which is a flawed extension of empathy. In this trope it’s difficult to decide if we should have empathy for Bear’s attempt to normalize his situation which he sought to do in the first instances of “sex” with Nikki and in the car with Sarah Harper.
“I’m just a kid, I never used my brain, I only use my heart”, sung as Bear took advantage of both women. The juxtaposition for the viewers was to decide if empathy was worth giving to Bear and his awkward personality. This line of thought was abruptly interrupted with the reality and consequences of Bear’s abuse, resulting in both Sarah’s and Nikki’s demise, one death by brick, one by selfhood.
When Bear contacts “One Wish Willow” the response he receives is affirming that even though Nikki didn’t ask for this experience, it doesn’t mean she didn’t want it. I believe this response reflects the normalization of this type of manipulation amongst men. This scene was also juxtaposed by Nikki’s jarring screech, begging to be released.
Perhaps Nikki’s resistance was localized in forcing Bear to deal with the realities of his abuse by fulfilling his request truthfully. The scene where she relieves herself on the carpet and her lucid moments were reminiscent of Jordan Peele’s Get Out where behavioral conditioning was broken; the nosebleed moment, Georgina the maid crying.
“I’m not your wife, I’m your sister”, Nikki publicly adds a poetic twist on the German Folktale Hänsel and Gretel, this poem was instead about sexual abuse and violence; which was the most accurate depiction of their dynamic.
Towards the end of the film, Bear seemingly begins to atone for his actions as he quotes, “Does Nikki like me..?” His contrition was evident, even suggesting an expectation of forgiveness, which was captured most clearly in actor Michael Johnson’s expression. This negotiation was also reflected earlier in the film, portrayed by internal battles with guilt when Bear was faced with the lucid reality of Nikki’s state of being. The film ends with Bear’s hesitant but successful attempt at suicide, which could be a reflection of masculinity as a fragile performance, similar to the lines in the film, Bear’s masculinity was underscored by control and manipulation.
