EXCLUSIVE: Obsession Star Megan Lawless Discusses Sarah’s Unexpected Destiny, Audience Reactions, and Future Plans

      Horror enthusiasts are buzzing about the film Obsession. Penned and helmed by Curry Barker, Obsession centers on Bear (Michael Johnston), a hopeless romantic who wishes on a One Wish Willow for his friend and crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), to love him in return. Although his wish comes true, his ideal romance spirals into a bloody nightmare that endangers him and those in his life.

      Created with a budget below $1 million, Obsession has garnered widespread acclaim in theaters, boasting a 96% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also raked in over $100 million at the box office within just three weeks, according to Box Office Mojo, establishing it as one of the decade's most successful horror films.

      In a conversation with Digital Trends, Megan Lawless, who played Bear’s friend and secondary love interest Sarah, shared insights on how she embodied her character, her experiences filming with the cast and crew, and her future endeavors following the film’s remarkable success.

      This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

      Digital Trends: Megan, thank you for joining me today. Let’s dive in. How are you doing?

      Lawless: I’m doing well, thanks! How about you?

      Digital Trends: I'm doing great! There's a lot of excitement surrounding Obsession, especially after it grossed over $100 million at the box office. I've seen many online praising your performance as Sarah. How does it feel to receive such positive reactions to your character?

      Lawless: It's amazing! I’ve always loved Sarah, so I hoped people would connect with her and cheer for her. Seeing everyone support her in the comments makes me really happy, knowing they love her as much as I do and that all the elements came together for fans to root for her.

      Digital Trends: That’s wonderful to hear! I’d love to know what inspired you to bring Sarah to life.

      Lawless: That’s an interesting question. I don’t know if I had specific inspirations, but I understood her character right away after reading the script. After discussing with Curry and aligning our visions, I felt it was important to bring a lot of my own perspective into the role. Her viewpoints on various aspects really shape her character. I drew stylistic inspiration from Hayley Williams and more punk rock girl aesthetics, which was fun since Sarah has a different style than mine. I explored different punk-inspired looks on Pinterest for Sarah's hair, and with the help of our costume designer, Blair James, we visually brought her to life.

      Digital Trends: Awesome! What was the experience like working with the cast and crew on set? From behind-the-scenes footage, it looks like everyone was having a blast.

      Lawless: We truly had the time of our lives! I can’t emphasize enough how close I became with my castmates and crew during Obsession. Inde and I even had sleepovers. I can call our producer, Haley Johnson, anytime, and we often hang out. We’ve formed deep friendships, hosting game nights, and we’ve made an effort to stay connected after filming and even post-release. It’s a rare and special experience for me.

      Digital Trends: That’s fantastic to hear! It’s wonderful to have a supportive community while making films. Speaking of Inde, I’ve seen online interactions showing how close you both are now. However, in the film, your characters have some conflicts. Were there moments during filming when you felt genuinely scared of her character?

      Lawless: Not really! Since I know Inde so well, it’s difficult to feel genuinely terrified by her. But I was consistently amazed by her performances. Watching her transform was impressive. The fun and joking between takes alleviated any fear while filming. Now, when I watch the movie, I can engage with the story from a different perspective, but I never felt that fear on set.

      Digital Trends: That makes sense. One particular scene that stands out is when Nikki attacks you with a brick in the car. It was shocking and led to a heartbreaking moment for Bear afterward. What did you think about that scene being part of the film?

      Lawless: I loved that scene! I suspected early on that my character might get killed off. All I hoped for was that her death would be memorable and elicit strong feelings from the audience. It certainly is a pivotal moment for Bear, catalyzing the events leading to the film’s climax. I was excited to see how we would bring that scene to life, and it was a fun process to make it what’s portrayed in the film.

      Digital Trends: Absolutely. It gave me similar feelings to a jump-scare scene from The Haunting of Hill House that changes everything. I was also intrigued by the dynamics between Sarah and the other characters, especially as the wish starts to unravel friendships. Do you think Sarah views Nikki as a friend or more as a rival for Bear’s affections?

      Lawless: We discussed this