OBSESSION - WE HEAR FROM STARS COOPER TOMLINSON and MICHAEL JOHNSTON

To say that the indie thriller, Obsession has become an obsession with moviegoers is an understatement!

Independent cinema has always thrived on raw, unfiltered intensity, and few recent releases capture that electric volatility quite like the gripping indie thriller Obsession. Driven by a masterclass in mounting tension and psychological unease, the film has quickly become a breakout conversation piece among cinephiles and critics alike.

Since it’s debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, Obsession has been making waves across the globe. Directed by Curry Barker, Obsession is a tense, darkly psychological thriller/horror-comedy that spirals out from a supernatural urban legend into a nightmarish descent of obsession and manipulation.

The story centers on Baron "Bear" Bailey (Michael Johnston), a shy and unfulfilled employee at a local music store. During a hangout with his co-workers—including his close friend and colleague Nikki (Inde Navarrette), along with Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) and Sarah (Megan Lawless)—the group encounters a bizarre artifact known as the "One Wish Willow".

At the beating heart of this dizzying descent are breakout stars Inde Navarette, Cooper Tomlinson and Michael Johnston, whose on-screen chemistry anchors the film's most harrowing and unpredictable twists. In a cinematic landscape saturated with predictable formulas, the actors bring a palpable, magnetic vulnerability to their roles, refusing to shy away from the darker, more uncomfortable contours of human obsession.

After speaking with stars Cooper Tomlinson and Michael Johnston about the film and what it was like attending the Toronto Film Festival, it is immediately apparent the deep trust required to navigate such demanding material. Whether they are unpacking the intricate layers of character motivation or reflecting on the grueling, rewarding reality of independent filmmaking, Tomlinson and Johnston prove they are two of the most exciting young talents to watch—and Obsession is merely the thrilling prelude to what is sure to be a formidable cinematic journey.

Below are my conversations with Cooper Tomlinson and Michael Johnston.