Reel Review: Dark Obsession (2023)

With great performances and a stellar ending, “Dark Obsession” is a worthwhile thriller that keeps you gripped to the edge of your seat.

Dark Obsession follows a painter after an unexpected event, forced into solitude with her inner demons slowly taking control. George Henry Horton is at the helm, directing and co-writing this thriller, which has a cast of some recognizable names.

One of the things that drew me to this film was some of those very names, including horror icon Danielle Harris.

Harris plays fearful neighbor Charlotte and, as always, is a delight with any screen time she is given.

Also in this cast is Mena Suvari, another actor who never disappoints. She plays Maya and provides some voiceover work for our mysterious presence lurking in the forest.

Starting off as a slow burner, the plot advances methodically.

We don’t gather much information about our lead protagonist, Anne (Blaine Morris). Along with her husband, Henry (newcomer Leonardo Amoia), it takes a while for the viewer to warm up to them, given how little we know about who they are.

However, it is evident this lack of clarity is intentional — designed to make the ending pack a greater punch.

Writer-director George Henry Horton does a great job of creating a somber atmosphere that reflects the protagonists’ emotions. 

I loved the use of wide-open frames with actors always central combined with numerous close-ups. This made it feel quite intimate and personal to the viewer. However, the wide shots were highly effective at cleverly tricking the audience, making us wonder if we really saw what we thought we saw. Was that a figure standing in the forest? We’re not quite sure.

I also appreciated the use of color as shots set in the past come across as golden and brightly lit, while present-day shots are soaked in blue tones to reflect the sad emotional state.

A true indie passion project, Dark Obsession was filmed just as the pandemic was hitting the film industry hard.

“When we first started filming, we were told by SAG we were the first pandemic film shooting in the whole of the southern United States. That we pulled it off is nothing short of a testament to the dedication and talent of our wonderful crew.” – Writer/Director George Henry Horton

You can really feel through the screen the dedication from this cast and crew, and it’s a joy to see films birthed from this kind of unwavering commitment to making movie magic against all odds.

This film’s third act is really solid, and it’s more than worth sticking with it during the intentionally slow build-up.

If you watch this film for no other reason, it’s well worth it for the climactic plot twist alone. It’s an ending I definitely did not see coming.

I was glued to the screen with my jaw on the floor as the film took me by surprise and took me on an off-the-rails rollercoaster ride.

I also really enjoyed the character of Maggie (Lucy Werner). She gripped me whenever she was on screen. The raw emotion she portrays in the film’s insane climax really nails the tension that has been building up throughout the film. It’s one hell of a payoff.

Though it’s more of a thriller than a true horror film, it’s enough to keep you on the hook and does not disappoint with its final act, making it worth your time. 

Written by Charlotte Spark