Obsessed (2009)

O Masterpiece

O Excellent

O Good

X OK

O Mediocrity

O Avoid

Review by Jason Pyles / May 13, 2009

If nothing else, “Obsessed” is ambitious — or is the right word “brave”? To make a PG-13 movie about this subject matter must have been difficult. Lazier filmmakers would have gone with R-rated content, allowing their project to slip into slinky sleaziness. But “Obsessed” doesn’t take the low road, and as a result, it’s a little more noble, despite the way it appears in its sultry marketing.

In other words, if you’re looking for sex and nudity, this ain’t your movie (and shame on you). If you strive to avoid such explicit content, “Obsessed” is fairly “clean.” Indeed, the PG-13 rating primarily comes from the ideas of lust, temptation and adultery — not the actual depiction of those themes.

Derek (Idris Elba) and Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles) are happily married with one little son, Kyle, who always seems sedated. All is well, but when a new temp (Ali Larter) starts trying to tempt Derek at work, the couple’s idyllic lifestyle crumbles. Lisa, the would-be home-wrecker, is not only attractive and driven, she’s also obsessed with Derek. Her predatory preoccupation with him reveals a darker and darker character whose relentless tactics escalate from appalling to unforgivable.

“Obsessed” is intriguing for two reasons: The first reason is because it inspires us, the viewers, to have different questions throughout the movie. Initially, we are very curious to know whether Derek will succumb to Lisa’s advances. Later in the movie, we have more questions that we’re just as eager to have answered. The other reason “Obsessed” is somewhat fascinating is because we simultaneously cringe and look forward to seeing what the crazy chick will do next.

Unfortunately, the movie grows tiresome, because it’s one of those frustrating plots where everything could be resolved if the victimized protagonist would simply communicate with those around him. 

But the movie’s biggest black eye is its descent into utter ridiculousness, when the inevitable physical confrontation occurs: What is meant to feel like vindication seems more like some Wrestlemania-type brawl between the Fabulous Moolah and Wendy Richter. Though it’s not meant to be funny, it is laughable.

Some people might consider “Obsessed” to be a love story or a drama — or maybe even an action flick (but that’s pushing it). Actually, “Obsessed” is intended to be a thriller, which is immediately evident from its peculiar horror-flick piano on the soundtrack. In fact, the music throughout the film is odd: During the beginning scenes with the blissfully happy couple, we hear that uneasy piano score; then at the end, after we’ve witnessed much unpleasantness, we hear happy music, as if years of therapy won’t be requisite.

I’ve thought about “Obsessed” for a considerable amount of time, and I just can’t pinpoint what it is about the film that relegates it to a rating of merely OK. I keep returning to something The New York Times film critic, Vincent Canby, once wrote in a preface to a “worst movies” list: 

“Actually, most movies, like most anything else, are neither very, very bad nor very, very good. They tend to fall into that vast middle ground of forgettableness ... ” 

Yes, I can say that although “Obsessed” is moderately entertaining, it is unremarkable enough to be easily forgettable.

Directed by Steve Shill

Idris Elba / Beyoncé Knowles / Ali Larter

Thriller     108 min.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sexual material, including some suggestive dialogue, some violence and thematic content).