While horror relies heavily on demonic imagery, the makers behind ‘Obsession‘ went for a much scarier angle. Curry Barker, the movie’s director, explicitly forbade the use of familiar demonic tropes and insisted on making the horror rooted in relatable human weaknesses instead. Rather than making Inde Navarrette‘s Nikki a character under the influence of some malevolent power from outside, He asked the actress to portray a growing sense of terror fueled by deep insecurity and jealousy.
To create the atmosphere of psychological horror in the film, actress Inde Navarrette opted for an unconventional method of preparation, avoiding stereotypical depictions of demonic forces to convey truly terrifying “ugly emotions.” Exploring new physical movements and allowing herself to reveal vulnerable, disturbing emotions, she managed to create a terrifying representation of ordinary jealousy that could happen in a regular couple.
Curry Barker Made Nikki’s Horror Feel Human
One of the defining creative decisions behind ‘Obsession‘ that makes it different from conventional horror films is Barker’s choice to eschew a familiar trope of a “possessed” character.
In contrast to many horror films that rely on exaggerated behavior and appearance of supernatural creatures, Barker’s vision for the film focused more on the psychological horror rooted in human emotions like obsession, insecurity, and jealousy.
Reflecting on this unusual concept for horror, Barker said in an exclusive interview with Collider:
“We were very specific. I didn’t ever want her to play possessed. I wanted her to play like a jealous girlfriend.”
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As a result of this approach to creating a villainous character, the film features a genuinely disturbing yet human transformation of Nikki that goes beyond stereotypical behaviors of possessed monsters.
By embracing real-life emotions instead, the director managed to create a version of horror that would reflect human possessiveness taken to the next level. This psychological approach made the horror experience in the movie feel much more personal and believable.
Inde Navarrette Used Raw Emotions for Nikki
To successfully portray Nikki’s darker personality in ‘Obsession,’ the main actress, Inde Navarrette, had to prepare for the role differently compared to conventional horror movies.
With the help of the director, she experimented with distorted facial features, unnatural gestures, and strange voice intonations to depict a shadow image of Nikki’s personality. The director reportedly encouraged Navarrette to explore different kinds of physical expression without the limitations of a rehearsal room.
According to Barker’s instructions, Navarrette was supposed to: “Go home and make faces,” in the mirror, she revealed in an interview with AOL.
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For preparation, the actress practiced a variety of grotesque facial expressions and sounds in front of the mirror. However, Navarrette revealed that much of the work to create this intimidating character came down to being open and revealing suppressed emotions.
Specifically, the actress allowed herself to be vulnerable, insecure, jealous, and angry in front of the camera, letting those dark sides of her shine through.
That emotional honesty ultimately became the foundation of Nikki’s unsettling screen presence. Instead of relying solely on exaggerated horror techniques, Navarrette’s performance made the character feel disturbingly authentic, turning familiar human emotions into something genuinely terrifying.
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