Obsession’s Bedroom Scene, Explained: Nikki’s Cry For Help Is The Real Horror Story
Obsession is the horror movie on everyone’s lips right now, but there is one harrowing scene in particular that demands extra attention.
Curry Barker has taken the world (and the box office) by storm with his hit horror film Obsession, which is about one man’s selfish wish for his friend to fall in love with him, leading to chaotic, violent, and very problematic ends for all involved.
There are plenty of scenes where Nikki, under the power of the One-Wish Willow, shocks audiences with her wildly aggressive and manic actions, but it’s one of the more disquieting scenes in the movie that really gets under your skin. With spoilers from this point on, here’s why.
What Happens In Obsession’s Bedroom Scene?
Throughout Obsession, wish-maker Bear slowly but surely realises his wish has very much come true. While he harbours some suspicion early on, by the time he learns Nikki’s father is not actually dying, there is no denying what is going on. Still, he continues to press on with the relationship, which is already a deeply disturbing decision at that point.
He’s obviously not thinking too much about the effect this is all having on Nikki, but when he tries to sneak out of the bedroom one night later in the film, he is confronted with another huge fork-in-the-road moment.
While Wish Nikki is fast asleep, what sounds like the 'real' Nikki speaks out and pleads with Bear not to wake her, otherwise the alternate version will take back control of her consciousness. In this moment, Nikki says to Bear that she wants him to kill her, to end her nightmare. His response, rather damningly, is to simply ask: “What’s so bad about being with me?” He then leaves, turning his back on the Real Nikki despite her desperate cry for help.
It’s never revealed exactly what has possessed Nikki or how the wish is controlling her, but the fact that her true consciousness is able to break through at all is very interesting. In this particular scene, it would seem that 'Wish Nikki' has less control while sleeping, which would make sense given the way we can enter a lucid state when we are asleep.
We also see the Real Nikki take over briefly in a few other moments in the film, all of which would appear to back up this idea that Wish Nikki’s hold can be weakened. Early on, when Nikki is cowering in the corner of the bedroom watching Bear sleep, it would seem there is a real tussle for power between Wish and Real Nikki, likely caused by the fact that she is tired and has possibly been asleep.
It’s not just sleep that may cause this divide, either. Alcohol and drug use obviously alter brain chemistry, and that inebriation may well have allowed the Real Nikki to clock in a couple of times. The first is when she kisses Bear for the first time and gets spooked — we know Nikki was drinking that night, and she even admitted to taking MDMA.
Then, at Ian’s party, after her erratic and possessive behaviour puts everyone on edge, the Real Nikki seemingly takes over and slams a bottle into her head in what we assume is an attempt to end her suffering. In my opinion, it’s no coincidence that another night of drinking opened the door for Nikki to regain consciousness.
Is That The Real Nikki Talking?
Again, it’s never explicitly stated whether that is the Real Nikki who speaks to Bear from the bed, but it is strongly implied. Simply put, there’s no reason for Wish Nikki to ask Bear to kill her, as the one thing she wants is to be with him forever.
Before the scene where Bear calls the One-Wish Willow helpline, we never really knew whether the old Nikki was completely gone or if there were even two versions of her at all. By the time we hear her screams down the phone, it’s clear that Nikki’s true self is definitely somewhere, apparently being held captive by some malevolent force but still able to communicate.
Why Nikki’s Plea Makes Bear Look Worse
Let’s not sugarcoat this: Bear is a selfish coward, and his manipulation of Nikki is downright evil. I do believe he doesn’t quite understand or realise that he is being absolutely despicable for much of the film, but that doesn’t make his actions any less abhorrent.
If he ever truly cared about Nikki, he would have put a stop to all of this far sooner. Sure, that may have involved someone dying, but the trauma he is putting her through is clearly taking its toll, so much so that she wants to be killed.
As I mentioned before, there are several points where Bear can’t ignore that his wish has somehow come true and that things are not going well. One of the most troubling moments for audiences is the cut from Bear accepting Nikki’s lie about her father’s illness to him having sex with her, and we see Nikki crying while faking an orgasm. This is a clear indication that Bear has totally robbed Nikki of her autonomy, and amounts to sexual assault.
The scene where Real Nikki begs Bear to kill her, though, is the first time that he can have no more excuses whatsoever. Nikki is explicitly telling him how painful this all is for her, and all he can think about is his ego.
How The Bedroom Scene Explains The Backwards Walk
Many Obsession viewers have been theorising as to what the finer details of the film mean. One interesting concept we’ve all been puzzling over is Nikki’s bizarre backwards walk.
Thanks to the incredible physical performance from Inde Navarrette, Nikki’s odd movements add an extra layer to the character and the One-Wish Willow spell. It seems the consensus is that this reverse walk is due to the Real Nikki trying to wrestle back control of her body.
If Nikki is fighting to break through and communicate at any opportunity, it figures that her body is putting up a similar fight to regain autonomy. This shows how fine the line is between Wish Nikki and Real Nikki, that she can momentarily win that battle. Ultimately, though, it's not enough.
Why It Matters More Than The Gore
The big jump scare in Obsession comes when Sarah and Bear are sharing a tender moment in the car, only for Nikki to bulldoze her way back into Bear’s life and repeatedly smash Sarah’s head against a brick on the steering wheel.
It’s absolutely brutal, and a moment that very nearly, quite literally, had me falling out of my chair in the cinema for how much it shocked me at the time. Even in the horror genre, it’s a pretty grizzly death, but it’s not necessarily unprecedented.
Recent horror movies like Midsommar, Longlegs, and Bone Tomahawk all feature bloody and graphic death scenes akin to this one in Obsession. In contrast, Nikki’s haunting plea in the bedroom is not as violent or visually impactful, but it’s the emotional weight of the moment that makes it stand out so much.
This is the one time we really get to learn about how the curse of the One-Wish Willow feels from the inside. The scream down the phone is horrible and excruciating to listen to, but hearing poor Nikki so desperately looking for any way out of this torment is even more harrowing.
Where To Watch Obsession
Obsession is enjoying a monumental theatrical run at the moment. The film was supposed to drop on streaming on June 2, but that has now been delayed so that it can be experienced in theatres for longer.
When it does eventually hit streaming, it’ll likely be on Peacock in the US, as that’s usually the home of Universal Pictures movies. There is no plan in place for any particular streaming service to house Obsession in the UK, but you’ll be able to buy and rent it from the likes of Apple TV and Sky Store soon enough.
