Grimes rates low-budget horror hit Obsession and new Highsmith film

Movie critic Paul McGuire Grimes reviewed two new releases for his segment Paul’s Trip to the Movies on October 30. He assessed the low-budget horror film Obsession, now streaming on Peacock, and the biographical drama A Talent for Murder, currently showing in theaters.

Obsession is described as one of the year’s highest-grossing films despite its small budget. Writer and director Curry Barker, a filmmaker who started with YouTube videos, made the movie with largely unknown actors. The cast includes Michael Johnston as Bear and Inde Navarette as Nikki. Johnston’s character works at a music store with colleagues Ian, played by Cooper Tomlinson, and Sarah, played by Megan Lawless. Bear is grieving the death of his cat while harboring unspoken romantic feelings for Nikki. Nikki wants to become a successful writer and is seeking a major life change. Bear buys her an 1980s toy called the One Wish Willow to cheer her up. The toy functions like a voodoo stick where users make a wish and break it in half. Bear uses the item himself after a night that does not go to plan, wishing for Nikki to fall in love with him. Nikki’s behavior shifts almost immediately, leading to a relationship marked by secrets and alarming actions. Grimes noted that Barker creates tension with precision despite this being his second feature film. He said the jump scares catch audiences off guard while the story remains an intimate psychological terror piece. Grimes called Navarette’s performance astonishing and noted that the film feels real for viewers who have experienced toxic relationships. He rated Obsession 4.5 out of 5 ticket stubs.

A Talent for Murder stars Helen Mirren as author Patricia Highsmith. The story is set in Switzerland in 1995 shortly before Highsmith died. She lives a private, retired life until editor Edward Ridgeway visits her. Alden Ehrenreich plays Ridgeway, who works for a New York publishing house and is tasked with convincing Highsmith to write another Tom Ripley novel. Highsmith is prickly and has no interest in revisiting the character. Ridgeway has a mysterious quality that Highsmith tries to assess. The film is adapted from the play Switzerland by Joanna Murray-Smith. The adaptation adds a third narrative featuring a femme fatale character named Clementine Balfour, played by Olivia Cooke. Cooke’s character is met by Edward on a train into Switzerland and has her own motives. Grimes stated that the premise and characters are laid out within the first eight minutes. He said the first half plays out as a two-person story of trust with sharp dialogue. He noted that Ehrenreich holds his own against Mirren in their dynamic. He described the third narrative involving Cooke’s character as forced and uninteresting compared to the main story. He called Mirren sharp and edgy as Highsmith. He rated A Talent for Murder 3.5 out of 5 ticket stubs.

Grimes provided these reviews during a broadcast segment that included his interview with one of the stars of Obsession. Both films received positive assessments from the critic, with the horror title earning the higher score of the two. The reviews were part of his regular coverage of new releases for his audience.