She’s the new Scream Queen dominating cinema screens and critics’ hearts with her revolutionary performance in Curry Barker’s feature-length directorial debut, Obsession. But what is Inde Navarrette obsessed with right now? She gives Wonderland the dirt.

Obsession is the kind of film best enjoyed in a buzzy cinema, brimful with expectant horrorphiles and somewhat apprehensive +1s. The popcorn spills at every jump scare. The collective shock in that car scene. The bloke to your back left who was chewing too loudly during the early dialogue scenes who is viscerally moaning before the hour mark. Ah. The pure joy of being scared.

The directorial debut from internet sensation and next-up filmmaker Curry Barker is ostensibly simple. There’s no complex ideas, long-winded backstories or talks of occults or the regular tedious tropes. This is supernatural in the super natural sense. Plot wise, it keeps things uncomplicated. A fickle boy in unrequited limerence, desperate for the attention of the girl he’s in love with, snaps a novelty wishstick asking for her to be obsessed with him. He should really have thought about the wording a little more, because when his desire becomes true, what he thought was going to be a dream come true soon turns into his worst nightmare.

While narratively it’s refreshingly straight-edged – slick in its pacing and dastardly entertaining in its content across its reasonable 108-minute run time – conceptually and morally, there’s subtle depth and intricacy, themes of male gaze and the line between adoration and possessive tendencies. It’s often darkly funny, shockingly violent, and keeps you guessing right until its final, sombre crescendo. It places Barker – alongside the likes of Jane Schoenbrun, Zach Cregger, Kane Parsons, etc – at the pinnacle of modern Western new wave horror. 

Our audience surrogate, played with gut-wrenching insecurity by Michael Johnson, is Bear. Snivelling and ambivalent, at first he appears to be the protagonist, but as the film descends further into rip-roaring gore and toe-curling absurdism, it’s clear that Bear is no leading man. He’s merely a vessel for the daring dichotomy of his counterpart. Nikki, the apple of Bear’s eye whom he forces to be obsessed with him, is simultaneously the hero and the villain. The prey and the predator. She’s terrifying yet tender. Inhuman yet empathetic. She’s one of the more layered, intricate and enigmatic characters you’ll come across in cinema this year – and that’s thanks to Inde Navarrette.

The 25-year-old Arizonian gives a genre and era defining showing. Her facial expressions? Emotional control? Physicality of performance? From the toppest tier. We’re talking Duvall in The Shining, Burstyn in The Exorcist, Spacek in Carrie, Madigan in Weapons levels. An actor who had previously mainly been seen on the small screen in shows like Superman & Lois and 13 Reasons Why, Inde fully announces herself with this breathtaking breakthrough role. 

So, it’s safe to say we at Wonderland HQ are OBSESSED with Inde. But what is Inde obsessed with? Keep scrolling for 10 of her favourite things…

Watch the Obsession trailer…

The sound of a salon

My mom is a hairstylist, and the moment I am in any salon, I am immediately at ease. The symphony of all the different sounds is beautiful. The nail drill, the blow dryer, the hum of conversations. It’s home. 

Podcasts

I consume maybe three kinds of media and podcasts are my baseline. The Bald and The Beautiful by Trixie and Katya has been in my home since it began. Lately, Upstairs Neighbors and Good Hang by Amy Poehler have been added to the mix. But I rarely expand from those three. If I like it, I am OBSESSED, and I don’t stray away. Loyalty to the end. 

Funky Nails

I LOVE a funky nail. Recently, I gave my nail an eyebrow piercing because she needed something more. Something that added character. I LOVE when my nails have a personality of their own. Almost like they are wearing me, not me wearing the nails. 

Hidden dive bar

I think clubs are great, but a dive bar is where it’s at. My friends and I are regulars at our local dive bar. Let me tell you, it is heaven on earth. I get myself an ice-cold Pacifico, say hi to the lovely bartenders and make my way to the pool tables. Saturdays are DJ nights, and playing doubles on the pool tables while Daughtry is playing is the closest I will ever get to flying. 

Big sunglasses

I can’t go anywhere without my sunglasses; they have to be big. My mom growing up had the largest sunglasses, and I thought she and my aunties were the coolest. So now it’s my turn to rock the French tip and BIG sunglasses. 

My car

I have the freaking cutest little 2005 manual convertible that I bought as a birthday present back in 2020. I take it EVERYWHERE.  She doesn’t have a name yet because I genuinely feel as though she is a part of me. Like my left leg or arm. 

Lip balm

Lip balm is ALWAYS in my bag and if it’s not, then we are stopping to get some. I have 5 or 6 always on me because they are used for different reasons… Carmax is 10/10 the most healing, EADEM is my ride or die for a glossy hydration as well as Rhode. Laniege is GREAT for flights and long wear.. I can go on and on. I LOVE lip balm.

Jujutsu Kaisen

There isn’t a moment in the day when I am not thinking about this show. I mean, it’s just insane. I don’t want to say too much or spoil anything, but for those that haven’t seen it… It’s just so good. Anime in general is something I have been OBSESSED with for years. Toradora, Jujutsu Kaisen, Your Name, Studio Ghibli movies.. The artwork is so beautiful. If you haven’t given Anime a try.. You should. 

Pottery

I am not sure if those who are close to me understand my love and admiration for pottery. First of all, it has been around for CENTURIES. My ancestors were throwing clay. YOUR ancestors were most likely throwing clay. It’s used to tell stories; to decorate homes, and it is such an intimate experience. You are moulding artwork. It’s tiring, and it’s beautiful. I LOVE pottery and ceramics. I hope to one day make all my own dishes, vases, and knives. I could go on forever. 

Purses

Last but certainly not least. I have collected over 100 purses, but I have right now 30 in my collection that I rotate out of. Fashion is so important to me. Prints, fabrics, textures, and colours. It can be so uniquely you. Purses are my FAVOURITE part of putting an outfit together. Big and bold, or soft and muted or loud and shiny. It’s just so much fun to play with, and don’t even get me started on how fun it is to organise it with OTHER bags inside your purse. Oh. My. God. I love it so much.

Words – Ben Tibbits