Stephen King “Can’t Stop Thinking” About New Horror Hit That’s Just Like 1 of His Best Adaptations

Stephen King has never been shy about sharing his thoughts on new movies and TV shows, but when the King of Horror gives his seal of approval, fans tend to take notice. Over the years, the It and The Shining author has praised everything from overlooked indies to mainstream hits, often helping introduce audiences to projects they may have missed or giving them the final push they needed to check them out. Most recently, Stephen King has said that he “can’t stop thinking” about Curry Barker’s supernatural horror Obsession.

Obsession has made waves with its twisted and haunting narrative, and King’s praise comes alongside the movie’s massive critical and commercial success. Interestingly enough, Obsession shares several striking similarities with one of King’s most beloved adaptations: the 1990 thriller Misery. Both horror movies discuss the same psychological themes while balancing dark comedy, suspense, and a downward spiral narrative.

Obsession is One of 2026’s Most Talked-About Films

Stephen King Gave the New Movie a B+

Obsession follows Michael Johnston’s Bear, a lonely man who uses a supernatural artifact to make his longtime crush and friend, Nikki, fall hopelessly in love with him. Predictably, the “One Wish Willow” goes catastrophically wrong, and Nikki’s affection quickly transforms into an all-consuming and violent obsession. Curry Barker utilizes Obsession’s disturbing premise to focus on consent, loneliness, and emotional dependency. It’s a thoughtful and relevant exploration of ‘nice guy entitlement’ and the dark realities of unearned intimacy, creating a genuinely horrifying experience. Inde Navarrette, in particular, gives a chilling performance as Nikki.

King recently weighed in with his own thoughts on Threads, awarding Obsession a B+ and explaining that the film lingered in his mind long after the credits rolled. His praise centers on the movie’s ability to provide genuine humor and horror, and though some fans felt a B+ score was lower than Obsession deserved, many pointed out that it’s still a worthy score from one of horror’s most respected voices. Obsession’s themes resonated with many audiences, and it actually feels surprisingly similar to one of King’s best adaptations.

Obsession Has Many of the Same Beats as Misery

Both Films Explore the Dark Grip that Adoration Can Have

Although their plots differ significantly, Obsession and Misery hinge on the same fundamental fear: what happens when love turns into possession? Rob Reiner’s Misery focuses on Paul, a successful novelist who’s rescued from a car accident by his self-proclaimed number one “fan,” Annie. Kathy Bates’ haunting performance turned Annie Wilkes into one of the most iconic horror villains of all time, with her increasingly controlling behavior proving that devotion can be just as terrifying (and dangerous) as hatred. She kidnaps Paul, tortures him, and drugs him, doing everything in her power to keep Paul’s captivity a secret from her neighbors and local law enforcement. Decades later, Misery is still considered one of the best King adaptations of all time thanks to its suspenseful and faithful translation of the original 1987 novel.

Obsession explores many of the same concepts. Rather than introducing an obsessive stranger, the film examines a closer relationship between villain and victim, as Bear strips away Nikki’s free will and autonomy to force her into loving him. Nikki soon becomes as terrifying and unpredictable as Annie, while Bear is trapped by the consequences of his own selfish decisions. Both Misery and Obsession argue that love cannot exist without choice and turn romantic fantasy into something much darker. Relationships are equally one-sided in both films, and in both, the true horror comes from humans. It’s easy to see why King responded so positively to Obsession; beneath the supernatural hook lies the same uncomfortable exploration of emotional captivity that made Misery one of his most enduring psychological nightmares.

King’s praise mirrors exactly what audiences are saying about Obsession, which continues to haunt and provoke long after the credits roll. Fans looking for psychological horror that prioritizes tension and character, similar to Misery, should put Obsession high on their watch list because it puts genuinely disturbing ideas over cheap jump scares.