At its centre is the shy and clumsy music shop worker Bear (Michael Johnston), who has had strong feelings for his best pal Nikki (Inde Navarrette) since childhood.

A man covered in blood and dirt looks forward, wearing a patterned hoodie.
There are plenty of jumps and eerie build-ups to some seriously terrifying scenesCredit: Alamy
 

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Nikki leaning her head on Bear's shoulder while sitting in bed
Obsession is a seriously shocking horror romance starring Inde Navarrette as Nikki and Michael Johnston as Bear
Bear is too timid to ask her on a date in real life, so he instead makes a wish using a bizarre One Wish Willow toy that he finds in a strange crystal shop.

Not taking the shop assistant’s warning seriously, Bear wishes that Nikki would “love him more than anything in the entire f***ing world”.

And just like Big and Freaky Friday before it, this is a film where wishes come true with little to no explanation of how it can be.

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Which is absolutely acceptable and part of the magic of cinema.

Also, like all previous films where spontaneous, badly-thought-out wishes immediately come true, the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for”, is also timely.

Because Nikki suddenly does love Bear more than anything else.

In fact, it’s a love so strong she is consumed by it — and him.

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She becomes crazed by her desire, and with that comes jealousy, violent levels of frustration and, well, obsession.

Director Curry Barker makes this more than just a horror about a psychotic woman. He also highlights the depths a young man would go to secure love.

Nikki goes from being an independent, free-thinking woman to a deranged tradwife who literally can’t keep her eyes off Bear. She is only content when she is staring at him.

And while often terrified, Bear is clearly addicted to this attention, too — hiding it from his friends and colleagues, including immature pal Ian (Cooper Tomlinson), who is baffled by the sudden romance.

As Nikki’s behaviour gets more disturbing, so does Bear’s response to it.
This makes what could have been a straightforward horror film all the more complex and thought-provoking.

Navarrette steals the show as Nikki — she is both terrifying and terrified of her own behaviour.

There are plenty of jumps and eerie build-ups to some seriously shocking scenes, and it manages to bounce between rom-com and horror seamlessly.

It’s sure to add some serious dread to a date night.

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NORMAL

(15) 88mins

★★★☆☆

Bob Odenkirk as a sheriff in a snowy scene, hands raised.
Normal stars Better Call Saul actor Bob OdenkirkCredit: Alamy
A SUBSTITUTE sheriff finds himself placed in a small town in Minnesota called Normal, and soon discovers it is anything but.

Starting with a set-up a bit like 1996’s Fargo, we meet interim sheriff Ulysses (Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk), who has been given eight weeks to oversee the snow-covered streets of this Midwestern American town before a new leader is appointed.

He arrives to friendly waves from the locals – the biggest crime is arguing over parking spaces.

But soon he discovers a disconcerting amount of firearms and explosives in the town, and the Mayor (Henry Winkler) clearly has access to tremendous amounts of cash.

A botched bank robbery then opens up the vault – and the town’s secrets.

And what follows is lots of blood, guts and a killing spree that would make Quentin Tarantino proud.

This surprisingly refreshing two-part film is fast-paced, funny and often ferocious.

But it gives away the twist too early, meaning you have to sit with it for around half the film.

Odenkirk’s gentle performance – and ability to fight like a maniac – make it a decent watch.

NORTHERN SOUL: STILL BURNING

(15) 95mins

★★★☆☆

Scene of people dancing inside the Casino Club in Wigan.
This doc celebrates a 70s music and dance subcultureCredit: PA
THIS documentary about the celebrated 1970s music and dance subculture is made with passion and insight by those who were there.

Focusing on the groups of teens who travelled to congregate at the Wigan Casino and dance wildly to obscure ’60s soul music from overseas, it offers a rare glimpse into a time that has now been mostly archived.

The working-class gatherings were a thing to behold, with sweaty, baggy-trousered dancers downing amphetamines and spinning around like trained ballerinas.

Unlike the uptight dance halls of the time, Northern Soul events became a beacon of hope for young people keen to escape the monotony of their lives.

Directed by Alan Byron, this film is unashamedly for people who are devotees of the genre and talking heads, such as DJ Tony Blackburn, reflect on how the rave scene evolved from it.

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Sadly, there’s not a huge amount of footage of the dancing and the venue where it all took place has since burned down.

But this passion project uses what it has to portray a moment in music history.