After teaming up with American Beauty icon Mena Suvari in the gripping thriller Anne, director George Henry Horton has returned with the actor in tow for another roller coaster ride in Dark Obsession. Covering loss in more forms than one, this indie thriller does not let its lack of Hollywood production value get in the way of telling an intense, tormenting narrative despite a few bumps along the way.
The film follows Anne (Blaine Morris) who struggles in the wake of her husband Henry (Leonard Amoia) leaving her abruptly and taking their business. She turns to her loved ones to fill the void of loneliness, including her closest friend Maya (Mena Suvari), her distant mother (Adriana Barraza), and her neighbour Charlotte (Danielle Harris), who all harbour dark secrets of their own. At the same time, Anne has to face her inner demons as well as the crushing prospect of letting go of the dreams she had for her life and selling her home.
Dark Obsession throws us straight into a world of chaos as we see Anne painting the portrait of an imposing home while clutching her blossoming baby bump. From there, the narrative switches from the past and present as we see Anne and Henry announce their pregnancy to loved ones and the demise of their marriage with twists and turns at every corner. As Anne navigates the roller coaster of emotions after her life is turned sideways, a mysterious presence in the woods heightens her paranoia as Henry’s sister Maggie (Lucy Werner) arrives to investigate her brother’s disappearance.
Eye-popping wide shots of sprawling woodland, imposing architecture, and vivid home decor work harmoniously alongside the haunting score to create an ethereal backdrop to the film that dances with the notion of the supernatural throughout. Suvari lends her voice to the sound of an unseen presence lurking in the woods around Anne’s home that whispers in her – and the audience’s – ears her most intrusive thoughts, blurring the lines between reality and imaginary as she falls deeper into her own alternate reality. It begins deliberately ambiguous as to who Anne and Henry are and why their marriage is in tatters, as information is slowly drip-fed to the audience in between stunning visuals and warped dream sequences that make you question everything onscreen.
What sometimes takes the audience out of the illusion is Dark Obsession’s stilted script and unusual interactions between its characters, which often come across as wooden and cold despite its emotional subject matter. Blaine Morris delivers a captivating performance as Anne, whose descent into despair is palpable. Lucy Werner is similarly stunning as Maggie whose arrival in the final act carries much of the tension as we barrel towards the explosive, twisty ending.
While its illusion almost comes undone in a few scenes, Dark Obsession’s strength lies in its strong visuals, narrative ambition, and gripping performances which work seamlessly to create a captivating thriller filled with surprises.
Dark Obsession
Summary
A roller coaster of twists and turns – and more than a few bumps – indie gem Dark Obsession has all the ingredients horror and thriller fans alike look for in one visually stunning package.
Dark Obsession is available on Digital in the UK and US now.
