Television series
Obsess
- Folk horror
- Dark fantasy
- Very dark
Obsess is a folklore-rooted horror series about a jealous ex who weaponizes dark magic against a couple, unraveling their marriage through supernatural means. It's a sharp blend of psychological terror and occult dread, trading jump scares for creeping dread. Perfect for anyone who wants horror that trusts the audience to feel genuinely unsettled.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy folk-rooted supernatural dread that grows from a jealous grudge into something much bigger, and you want a tidy four-episode commitment.
Skip it if you need horror grounded in everyday realism, since this one leans on ritual, folklore and supernatural escalation rather than ordinary, recognisable tension.
What it asks of you: Barely an hour across four episodes, so it asks for one sitting and patience, letting the dread gather slowly rather than arriving in quick jolts.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Haunting of Hill House2018
Masterful blend of intimate character drama and supernatural horror. The ensemble cast anchors the scares in real emotional stakes, making the hauntings feel personal and devastating rather than just spooky.
But Very slow-burn; early episodes prioritize family history over spectacle. If you want constant action or clear explanations, you'll find yourself restless.
Midnight Mass2021
Mike Flanagan's meditation on faith, community, and corruption wrapped in vampire mythology. The writing is gorgeous and the horror emerges from theological dread rather than gore. Genuinely haunting.
But Religious themes dominate; lengthy monologues about faith might feel heavy-handed if that's not your territory. Also methodically paced—patience required.
The Witch2016
Folklore-soaked folk horror that feels authentically grounded in Puritan New England. Every frame drips with paranoia and dread. The slow accumulation of wrongness builds to something genuinely terrifying.
But Deliberately ambiguous about what's real and what's psychological. If you need clarity or resolution, this will frustrate you. Also bleak as hell.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Obsess
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Housebound2014
Both explore how obsessive attachment—romantic or protective—can conjure darkness. Here, that obsession is maternal and gently comedic; in Obsess, it's vindictive and corrosive. Same engine, different moral registers.
New Zealand ghost story that marries genuine scares with dark comedy and warmth. It's about obsessive love, protection, and whether the haunting is real—deployed with real wit and heart without undercutting the horror.
But Tonal shifts between horror and humor don't always land cleanly. Some viewers find the mix tonally messy rather than clever.
More like this (8)
Yellowjackets2021
Mystery-horror hybrid about trauma and obsession that unfolds across timelines. The ensemble dynamic crackles with tension; you're never sure who to trust or what's supernatural versus psychological.
But Juggling multiple timelines and unanswered questions can feel scattered. Season two divides audiences on where it's heading.
His House2020
Uses folk horror and supernatural elements to explore trauma, displacement, and guilt. Visually inventive and emotionally gutting. The horror comes from both the haunting and what the characters are running from.
But Deals explicitly with refugee trauma and systemic cruelty; not easy viewing. Some may find the allegory overwrought.
The Wailing2016
Korean thriller where horror and mystery intertwine beautifully. Obsession, faith, and paranoia drive the narrative. Technically stunning and philosophically complex.
But Two and a half hours with a deliberately cryptic ending. Demands active engagement and repeated viewing to parse what actually happened.
Archive 812022
Occult mystery with a genuinely compelling protagonist trying to solve a puzzle that might destroy him. The apartment building mythology feels lived-in and the obsession builds naturally.
But Cancelled on a cliffhanger; resolution never came. If unfinished stories enrage you, skip this entirely.
Shutter Island2010
Psychological thriller where unreliable perspective and creeping dread matter more than what's technically real. DiCaprio carries the weight brilliantly. Visually rich and constantly unsettling.
But The twist is guessable for some viewers; the ending's philosophical question won't land if you've already figured it out. Also pretty grim.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer2017
Slow-burn horror rooted in myth and obsession. Every scene crackles with wrongness. Yorgos Lanthimos creates a world where social rules have curdled into nightmare logic.
But Deliberately artificial performances and pacing may read as cold. Plot logic follows myth rather than naturalism. Not designed to comfort.
In the Mood for Love2000
Obsess deals with romantic obsession as a weapon; this film explores romantic obsession as a kind of beautiful drowning. Both pin their horror or heartbreak on the inescapability of wanting someone you can't have. One uses magic, one uses color grading—same trap, different tools.
Wong Kar-wai's lush meditation on longing, obsession, and thwarted desire. Gorgeously composed shots of neighbors discovering their spouses' infidelity and falling into each other. Utterly mesmerizing visual poetry.
But Virtually no plot; the entire film is mood and implication. Glacially paced. If you need narrative momentum, this will feel like watching paint dry.
Noroi: The Curse2005
Both center obsession as the real horror—the way someone else's fixation can worm into your life and rewrite reality. Here it's a documentarian chasing a curse; in Obsess, it's an ex weaponizing magic. Both suggest that obsession itself is the spell that never lifts.
Japanese found-footage horror about a documentarian obsessed with uncovering a supernatural pattern. Genuinely terrifying in ways that feel inevitable rather than jump-scared. The obsession *itself* becomes contagious to the viewer.
But Found-footage format; grainy and deliberately poorly shot. Slow accumulation of dread means the payoff comes very late. Subtitles required, and pacing demands patience.
