To all the guys out there looking for love, there’s a profound bit of advice to be heeded from this year’s sleeper hit Obsession. By now I’m sure you’ve seen or at least heard of the indie-horror film by Youtuber/director Curry Barker that’s grossed over $374 million against a production budget of $750,000. It’s already one of the highest grossing horror movies of all time and Focus Features’ top grossing film ever. Why? How? My theory: In addition to being well-acted, quick-paced and clever, it’s its evisceration the Manic Pixie Dream Girl that really brings it home. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want a perfectly quirky, cool, sweet, humble beautiful girl-like woman to fall madly in love with us through little to no effort, personal growth or risk? Yes please! A possible blessing, one might think. Trouble is, it’s really not. Now this is not the first movie to tackle the idea. Ruby Sparks (2012) dismantles the fantasy just the same, as does the better known 500 Days of Summer (2009). Both led the way with subtlety and whimsy and centre around male protagonists hoping and praying for love the easy way. Obsession continues the conversation, but instead of subversions of the romantic comedy, the takedown is gruesome, horrifying as well as funny. Bear (Michael Johnston) is a timid and unassuming “nice guy” type who talks the talk of finally being ready to muster the strength to reveal his crush on childhood friend/co-worker Nikki (Inde Navarette). It’s relatable and you’re rooting for the guy. He’s romantic potential personified. What’s more, the girl he likes is kind of awesome. She’s beautiful and unassuming, but also kind. She’s out of his league for sure, but point that arrow high man! This could make you. Yet when he’s in the best possible position for his confession of love, he chokes and chooses instead to go around the hard part and, essentially, makes a wish upon a monkey’s paw. As you would expect, what follows is a comedically twisted journey that blurs the lines of love, control and consent. Spiralling under the weight of grief and regret, Bear continues to make all of the most cowardly decisions possible, which only amplifies the torture. It’s a black, modern inversion of the fantasy girl trope with a little Get Out (2017) mixed in. But mostly it’s a service, a warning and reminder to men that if you really want something, you have to pull up your big boy pants and state it. The coward truly dies a thousand deaths.

WATCH OR NOT: WATCH

Additional musings: We’re pumped for Curry Barker’s next horror-comedy Anything But Ghosts starring Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard.