The Take
Obsession is not worth watching. Slop Score 29.
De Palma delivers a slick Vertigo remix with practical effects and auteur flair, but the southern gothic incest plot undercuts any tension with cheap taboo shocks that feel more dated than daring.
The Verdict
Skip it. Slop Score 29.
The twists hold up for some, but the core premise trades Hitchcock craft for southern creep that no longer lands. Watch Vertigo instead.
Common Questions
What is Obsession about?
A grieving widower meets a woman resembling his late wife and spirals into fixation. The 1976 De Palma film twists into family taboo.
Why is Obsession controversial?
No. The central relationship veers into implied incest territory that shocked 1976 audiences and still feels off today.
Is Obsession based on a true story?
No. Pure fiction from De Palma and Paul Schrader, remixing Vertigo with added southern gothic family secrets.
