‘Obsession’ Is A Genius Modern Day Twist On ‘The Twilight Zone’

BusinessHollywood & Entertainment‘Obsession’ Is A Genius Modern Day Twist On ‘The Twilight Zone’ByJosh Weiss,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Josh Weiss is a writer covering the nexus of pop culture and Judaism.Follow AuthorJun 11, 2026, 01:59pm EDTOne Wish Willow package in 'Obsession.' │INSET: Devil's bobble head from classic 'Twilight Zone' episode, 'Nick of Time.'Courtesy of Focus Features & CBSDespite its inclination toward the otherworldly, the original Twilight Zone created by TV pioneer Rod Serling was, at its core, about the weakness of human nature. The plane-wrecking gremlins, man-eating extraterrestrials, and living department store mannequins were merely set dressing for parables meant to teach how the uglier aspects of our species—cruelty, greed, fear, suspicion, vice, regret, grief, jealously, failure, hubris (the grotesque colors in the human rainbow, in other words)—can cloud one’s judgement.Often unhappy with their lives, Twilight Zone characters unknowingly wandered into that bizarre fifth dimension, and came out the other side with way more than they bargained for because the consequences were never fully considered. In the immortal words of Albus Dumbledore, "Humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.”Obsession, the staggering directorial debut from rising writer-director Curry Barker, represents the greatest expression of The Twilight Zone’s lasting cultural footprint since Frank Darabont delivered a devastating gut-punch to audiences with The Mist nearly 20 years ago.***WARNING! The following contains major spoilers for Obsession!***On its surface, Obsession shares a striking similarity to The Twilight Zone Season 1 episode, “The Chaser,” in which a young man (George Grizzard) comes to regret purchasing a love potion that turns the woman of his dreams (Patricia Barry) into a sycophantic shell of her former se...