Instead, the fear comes from atmosphere, paranoia, and the growing realization that something feels deeply wrong long before the movie ever says it out loud.

That’s exactly why Obsession worked so well for me.

I caught the film over Memorial Day weekend, and it immediately brought to mind horror movies like Smile, It Follows, and Final Destination — movies where the dread itself becomes the monster. Obsession taps into that same uncomfortable energy by focusing less on traditional horror icons and more on tension, emotional instability, and the terrifying consequences of something that spirals completely out of control.

Directed by Curry Barker, the film follows a hopeless romantic whose desperate wish for love unleashes increasingly disturbing consequences. That premise could have easily become over-the-top or gimmicky, but the movie keeps things grounded enough that the escalation feels genuinely uncomfortable instead of ridiculous.

One of the most impressive things about Obsession is just how much it accomplishes with so little. The movie was reportedly shot for under $1 million and completed in only 20 days, which honestly feels unbelievable after seeing the final product.

That low-budget approach actually becomes one of the film’s biggest strengths. Everything feels intimate, raw, and strangely personal in a way that bigger studio horror movies sometimes lose. There’s a constant sense that the filmmakers had to maximize every location, every shot, and every moment of tension, and that creative restraint gives the movie its identity.

Even more impressive is the fact that the project reportedly sparked a major bidding war before Focus Features picked it up for distribution, with companies like A24 and NEON also interested in acquiring it.   That makes complete sense after watching it because Obsession has the exact kind of unsettling psychological horror energy that horror fans tend to obsess over once word-of-mouth starts spreading.

The performances are another huge reason the movie works. Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette keep everything grounded emotionally, which is important because the movie asks the audience to buy into increasingly disturbing situations without ever fully leaning into camp. The chemistry between the leads helps sell the emotional side of the story while the tension slowly keeps tightening in the background.

Visually, the movie does a lot with limited resources. Some shots feel intentionally dark and uncomfortable, almost like the movie wants viewers to sit in uncertainty rather than clearly see every detail. The sound design also deserves a lot of credit because so much of the tension comes from anticipation rather than cheap jump scares. Interestingly, one of the music store scenes was filmed in the same store used in Wayne’s World, which is one of those fun horror trivia details that makes indie filmmaking stories even better.

What I appreciated most is that Obsession trusts the audience. It doesn’t constantly explain itself or force unnecessary exposition into every scene. The movie understands that fear is often strongest when viewers are left sitting with uncertainty and discomfort.

That approach won’t work for everyone. Some viewers may want bigger reveals, more traditional scares, or clearer answers. But for horror fans who love slow-burn tension and psychological dread, this movie absolutely delivers.

It’s also fascinating seeing how quickly the film has exploded in popularity. For a movie made this cheaply and this quickly, its growing success almost feels like a modern reminder of what made indie horror so exciting in the first place.

Obsession proves you don’t need giant budgets, elaborate monsters, or endless CGI to create effective horror. Sometimes all you really need is a strong concept, committed performances, and the confidence to let tension do the heavy lifting.

Careful what you wish for.

While the game carries a retro pixel-art presentation, the systems underneath it feel anything but simple. Between faction choices, exploration, combat progression, and a story rooted in myth and survival, Drova offers the kind of experience that rewards patience and curiosity.

A Grim World Inspired by Myth and Mystery

Drova’s setting draws inspiration from Celtic mythology, placing players in a world where ancient spirits tied to nature have been captured and exploited by human factions seeking power. The remnants of a lost empire have left behind dangerous magic, fractured societies, and plenty of unanswered questions about what truly happened in the past.

Rather than pushing players down a strict narrative path, the game lets you carve out your own place in this harsh world. You begin with little more than basic gear and a lot of uncertainty, slowly learning how the world operates through exploration, dialogue, and trial-and-error. Eventually, you’ll align yourself with one of two major factions, and that decision shapes how the story unfolds from there.

This approach gives the game a strong sense of discovery. Instead of constantly pointing you toward the next objective, Drova encourages players to pay attention to conversations, environments, and clues scattered across the world.

Combat That Rewards Patience

Drova’s combat sits somewhere between traditional action RPG mechanics and the more deliberate pacing of “souls-like” encounters. Timing and positioning matter, and enemies can quickly punish reckless attacks.

Different weapons and abilities open up new approaches to fights, but the game still expects you to learn enemy patterns and pick your moments carefully. It’s not the kind of system where you can simply button-mash your way through encounters.

Progression also happens in interesting ways. Instead of automatically learning new skills through leveling alone, you’ll often need to seek out trainers in the world who can teach you abilities. That design choice makes character growth feel tied to exploration and relationships within the world.

A Surprisingly Massive Mobile Experience

What stands out most about Drova on mobile is just how much game is here. This isn’t a stripped-down spin-off or simplified port. It’s essentially the same sprawling RPG experience found on other platforms, now playable on a phone or tablet. For a mobile title, that’s impressive.

The controls are responsive and easy to learn, making it simple to jump in and play for short bursts. Despite its depth, the core gameplay loop—explore, fight, gather resources, and improve your character—is easy to pick up quickly.

The sound design deserves special mention as well. The ambient audio and voice work help bring the world to life, adding atmosphere to an already immersive setting.

Mobile Performance and Screen Considerations

I spent time playing the game on both an iPhone 17 Pro and an iPad Pro, and each device offered a slightly different experience.

On iPhone, the entire game displays properly within the screen’s aspect ratio. However, the downside is that text can become quite small. It’s still readable, but long play sessions may leave you wishing for larger font options.

The iPad version is where things get a bit tricky. The larger display makes dialogue and menus much easier to read, which is great for an RPG with a lot of text. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t fully adapt to the tablet’s aspect ratio. Portions of the screen near the sides end up cut off, which slightly limits the visible play area.

When I attempted to stream the game, I ran into an unexpected issue with capturing the mobile gameplay. Using Apple’s standard Lightning/USB-C video adapter—which normally outputs both video and audio to a capture setup—the image from the iPhone and iPad didn’t display correctly in OBS. The framing and scaling simply didn’t translate properly to the broadcast window, which made it difficult to present the game the way it should be seen. It’s possible that a different capture solution or adapter might resolve the issue, but in this case it meant viewers weren’t able to get the full visual experience during the stream.

If the developers can adjust the iPad scaling in a future update, the tablet version could easily become the best way to experience the mobile port.

Pixel Art With Real Character

Visually, Drova uses detailed pixel art to build its world. Forests, ruins, and settlements all feel carefully handcrafted, and the darker tone of the setting is reflected in the environments.

The art style might appear simple at first glance, but the attention to detail becomes clear as you explore more of the world. Characters, enemies, and environmental elements all help reinforce the bleak atmosphere of the setting.

Combined with the game’s lighting and environmental effects, the presentation manages to feel both nostalgic and modern.

Final Thoughts

Drova: Forsaken Kin is the kind of RPG that respects the player’s intelligence. It doesn’t hold your hand, and it doesn’t rush you through its systems. Instead, it invites you to explore, experiment, and gradually uncover the secrets of its world.

The mobile version manages to deliver an impressively large RPG experience in a portable format. While the iPhone version suffers from small text and the iPad version could use better aspect-ratio support, the core game remains engaging and surprisingly easy to pick up and play.

With strong sound design, rewarding exploration, and meaningful player choices, Drova proves that classic RPG design still has plenty of life left in it.

If the developers continue refining the mobile experience—especially on tablets—this could easily become one of the better RPG time-killers available on iOS.

For fans of old-school RPGs or anyone looking for a deep adventure they can take on the go, Drova: Forsaken Kin is well worth exploring.

Before watching it, my understanding of the film was pretty minimal. The trailer mostly suggested that Zazie Beetz’s character was in serious trouble inside a mysterious building, and that was about it. That vague setup actually worked in the film’s favor. Going in with few expectations made the chaos that followed feel even more surprising.

One of the most satisfying parts of the experience is seeing Beetz step fully into a leading role. She has always been a compelling presence in supporting parts, but here she gets to carry the movie, and she does it with confidence. Her character, Asia Reaves, infiltrates a mysterious New York high-rise while searching for her missing sister, only to discover the building is home to a secretive and violent cult. 

From that point on, the film wastes very little time throwing its protagonist into a relentless gauntlet of survival.

What might surprise some viewers is just how much gore the movie delivers. This isn’t subtle horror. It’s loud, splattery, and frequently outrageous. Limbs fly, blood sprays, and the violence often borders on cartoonish excess. That style is very intentional, and if you’re familiar with the work of director Kirill Sokolov, it becomes clear why the film feels the way it does. His previous work leaned heavily into extreme horror and kinetic action, and They Will Kill You follows that same philosophy. 

In fact, it becomes obvious pretty quickly that this doesn’t feel like a traditionally American-directed movie. The pacing, the editing, and even the action choreography all have a different rhythm. The movie pulls from a wide mix of influences, from martial arts cinema to stylized action films and even anime-inspired visuals. Critics have even described parts of the film as feeling like “live-action anime,” thanks to its exaggerated action and hyper-stylized combat sequences. 

All of that gives the movie a very specific tone. It’s undeniably campy, but it’s the kind of camp that leans into the absurdity rather than apologizing for it. The film often feels like it’s daring the audience to go along for the ride, and if you do, it can be a lot of fun.

Calling They Will Kill You a guilty pleasure almost undersells it. Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it’s wildly over-the-top. But the movie is also clearly aware of what it is and who it’s for. The blend of horror, gore, dark humor, and stylized action isn’t going to work for everyone, and it probably won’t appeal to mainstream audiences looking for a traditional horror film. But for viewers who appreciate chaotic genre mashups and unapologetic violence, there’s a certain charm in how fully the film commits to its madness.

In the end, They Will Kill You isn’t trying to be subtle, refined, or even particularly serious. It’s a blood-soaked, campy horror spectacle that thrives on its excess. If you’re willing to embrace its strange mix of influences and its unapologetic style, you might find yourself having a surprisingly good time along the way.

A Case Built on Deduction, Not Guesswork

At its core, Confidential Killings is a detective adventure that asks players to think like an investigator. You’re dropped into a grim, stylized Hollywood setting and tasked with unraveling a series of murders that are far more interconnected than they first appear. There are no cheap solutions here; progress comes from carefully examining crime scenes, questioning suspects, and cross-referencing testimony and evidence.

One of the game’s standout mechanics is its evidence-connection system, where players visually link clues, motives, and characters. What initially feels like a straightforward mystery quickly grows into a dense web of relationships, contradictions, and hidden truths. That escalation—from “this seems simple” to “wait, how does everything connect?”—is one of the game’s biggest strengths.

A Style That Fits the Story

The art direction immediately sets the tone. Confidential Killings embraces a retro, noir-inspired visual style that feels pulled from the pages of a graphic novel. It’s moody without being oppressive, stylized without being distracting, and it complements the investigative gameplay beautifully.

The audio design deserves just as much praise. Subtle background sounds, a restrained but effective score, and atmospheric sound effects all work together to reinforce the tension. The music never overwhelms the experience, instead quietly underscoring the sense that you’re peeling back layers you maybe weren’t meant to see.

Not for Everyone—But Exactly Right for Some

This is not a game that rushes you along or explains every step. Players who enjoy fast-paced action or constant guidance may bounce off it. But for fans of mystery games, logic puzzles, and narrative-driven investigations, Confidential Killings feels tailor-made.

Personally, this type of game is right in my wheelhouse. I actually streamed it live on my Twitch channel. I love puzzle and mystery titles, and Confidential Killings delivers exactly what it promises: a methodical, thoughtful experience that rewards attention and patience. The satisfaction comes not from flashy moments, but from finally connecting the dots and realizing just how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Final Thoughts

Confidential Killings may look deceptively simple at first, but give it time and it reveals itself as a surprisingly complex and engaging detective experience. Between its strong art direction, immersive sound design, and layered puzzle mechanics, it offers something refreshingly different in a space often dominated by more conventional storytelling.

Final Verdict:
If you enjoy mysteries, puzzles, and games that trust you to figure things out on your own, Confidential Killings is well worth your time. It won’t be for everyone—but for the right audience, it’s a compelling noir case that’s hard to put down. – 8/10

Primate sets out to deliver a pulpy creature-feature with gore, chaos, and shock value, but the final result feels confused, poorly executed, and surprisingly dull. While the premise has the bones of something fun—or at least memorably bad—the film never commits to a tone or concept strong enough to carry it.
The biggest hurdle is the ape itself. The suit and makeup are hard to ignore and never feel convincing. Rather than selling the illusion of a dangerous animal, the film constantly reminds you that you’re watching someone in a costume. That disconnect makes every attack less frightening and undercuts the entire premise. There’s also no meaningful setup to establish the ape as anything more than a plot device, so when it turns rabid, there’s no emotional hook, no sympathy, and no tragedy—just noise and chaos.

Character writing doesn’t help matters. The movie leans heavily on tired horror tropes, including the painfully familiar “party dudes” introduced on the plane. Their attempt at comic relief falls flat, feeling forced and outdated rather than fun or self-aware. The humor never lands, and instead slows the film down while adding nothing of value.

One of the film’s more interesting ideas—the father being deaf—feels especially underdeveloped. Several scenes linger too long on conversations without using the concept in a meaningful or suspenseful way. There were clear opportunities to use sound, silence, and perspective creatively, but the film never capitalizes on them, making the inclusion feel awkward rather than purposeful.

While Primate doesn’t shy away from gore, even that element is inconsistent. The ape’s behavior and attack patterns change from scene to scene with little logic, making the violence feel random instead of threatening. Adding to the confusion, the film ignores basic real-world facts—such as the absence of rabies in Hawaii and the illegality of owning a chimpanzee there—further weakening the already flimsy setup.

The score is another mismatch, often clashing with the tone of the scenes instead of enhancing tension or atmosphere. Rather than elevating the horror, the music frequently pulls you out of the moment.

In the end, Primate is a creature feature that fails on nearly every level. The effects don’t convince, the story doesn’t engage, and the ideas that could have worked are left half-baked. What remains is a film that makes little sense, wastes its own concepts, and never becomes entertaining enough to justify the ride.

Final Verdict: 4/10
A misfired ape horror that feels more silly than scary, with too many missed opportunities to recommend.

I played the game on Xbox Series X, but it is available on PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, and Series S.

Read the @polygon article about Odd Meter: https://www.polygon.com/23921305/odd-…

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