The Banished and Obsession: Two Journeys Into Despair, One A Primal Scream, The Other A Twisted Whisper of Desire

At issame.com, we're constantly sifting through the cinematic universe to connect the dots you might never have considered, or to debunk similarities that are only skin deep. Today, we're diving into a pair of upcoming horror films that, at first glance, might seem to occupy a similar space in your nightmares. The algorithms picked up a rough similarity index of approximately 56% between Joseph Sims-Dennett's The Banished and Curry Barker's Obsession. It's enough to make you pause and wonder: are these two films spiritual siblings in their terror, or are they merely sharing a genre label while exploring vastly different corners of dread?

Let's lay out the quick facts to get our bearings:

• The Banished (2025-07-18)

  • **Genre: ** Horror
  • **Director: ** Joseph Sims-Dennett
  • **Runtime: ** 97 minutes
  • **Rating: ** 4.1/10 (8 votes)
  • **Tagline: ** "Evil roams this land."

• Obsession (2026-05-13)

  • **Genre: ** Horror, Thriller
  • **Director: ** Curry Barker
  • **Runtime: ** 108 minutes
  • **Rating: ** 8.3/10 (3287 votes)
  • **Tagline: ** "Be careful who you wish for…"

Right off the bat, we see that while both share the "Horror" genre, Obsession also carries the "Thriller" tag, hinting at a potentially different kind of tension. The most striking difference from this overview, however, is the audience reception – a significant chasm in ratings and vote counts, suggesting very different cinematic experiences and levels of polish.

Theme and Premise Comparison: The Seeds of Dread

Beneath the surface, both The Banished and Obsession deal with characters facing overwhelming, sinister forces that threaten to consume them. This core struggle for survival against an encroaching evil is undoubtedly where issame.com's similarity index finds its footing. Yet, the nature of this consumption and the path to it diverge dramatically.

The Banished plunges us into the bleak, unforgiving world of folk horror. Grace, our protagonist, finds herself lost and alone in the wilderness, beset by a "dark presence." The tagline, "Evil roams this land," is a stark declaration. This isn't just about survival against the elements; it's about a primal, external dread – an ancient, perhaps malevolent entity woven into the very fabric of the landscape. It speaks to a fear of the unknown, of nature's indifference, and of forces beyond human comprehension. The "twisted folk horror" label suggests a subversion of idyllic pastoral settings, morphing them into arenas of terror where traditional beliefs and isolation give rise to monstrous realities. Grace's journey is one of desperate endurance, a fight to retain her sanity and perhaps her very soul against a geographically bound horror. The consumption here is likely literal, spiritual, or both, as the land itself seeks to absorb her into its dark narrative.

Obsession, on the other hand, preys on a very human, very relatable flaw: unrequited love and the desperate desire to change fate. Bear, a "hopeless romantic," makes a wish at the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart. The film's tagline, "Be careful who you wish for…," immediately signals a cautionary tale. What follows isn't an external environmental threat but a consequence of Bear's own actions and desires. He gets what he asked for, but at a "dark, sinister price." This is the realm of supernatural psychological horror, where the horror stems not from a monster in the woods, but from the insidious corruption of a wish gone terribly wrong. The keywords associated with Obsession – obsession, supernatural, possession, wish, unrequited love, self-harm, psychological horror – paint a picture of an internal descent. The "consumption" here is psychological, potentially spiritual, as Bear's desire twists into something monstrous, perhaps taking over his very being or twisting the reality around him. The horror lies in the unraveling of self, the perversion of love, and the terrifying consequences of playing with forces you don't understand. It's a modern Faustian bargain, where the devil wears the guise of fulfilled desire.

While both Grace and Bear face a battle for their autonomy against a formidable, supernatural adversary, their starting points and the nature of their struggles are distinct. Grace is an unwitting victim, tossed into a nightmare by circumstances. Bear is an active participant, his own yearning initiating his downfall. One is a scream against the wilderness, the other a whisper corrupted by a dark wish.

Execution: Pacing, Tone, and Style Divergence

This is where the 56% similarity index truly begins to fray. Despite the shared "horror" umbrella and thematic undercurrents of consumption, The Banished and Obsession execute their terror in fundamentally different ways.

The Banished, as a "twisted folk horror," likely embraces a more deliberate, atmospheric pacing. Folk horror often thrives on a slow burn, gradually building a sense of unease through isolation, unsettling rituals, and the palpable presence of ancient malevolence. We can expect wide, desolate shots of the wilderness, sparse dialogue, and a reliance on environmental storytelling to evoke dread. The tone would likely be bleak, oppressive, and primal, mirroring Grace's struggle against overwhelming odds. Stylistically, it might lean into a raw, perhaps even unpolished aesthetic, enhancing the feeling of being truly lost and vulnerable. Given its very low rating and small number of votes, it's plausible that this film either caters to a very specific, niche audience who appreciates slow-paced, experimental horror, or it struggles with execution, potentially feeling sluggish or underdeveloped to a broader viewership. It might be less about jump scares and more about an enduring sense of dread and existential terror.

Obsession, with its "Horror, Thriller" designation and emphasis on "psychological horror" and "absurdism," suggests a different beast entirely. Its pacing is likely more dynamic, perhaps starting with a sense of romantic naiveté before escalating into a frantic, unsettling unraveling. Psychological thrillers often excel at ratcheting up tension through character-driven conflict, paranoia, and a gradual blurring of reality. The tone would be insidious, disturbing, and perhaps darkly ironic, especially given the premise of a wish gone wrong. We might expect a more claustrophobic feel, even if the settings vary, as Bear's internal struggle becomes the primary battleground. The high rating and significant number of votes indicate a film that successfully delivers on its promises, likely employing clever narrative twists, strong performances (Michael Johnston as Bear, Inde Navarrette as Nikki, and even Andy Richter in a supporting role suggest a more mainstream, polished cast), and effective psychological manipulation to unnerve its audience. Its style could be more polished, perhaps even surreal or Expressionistic, to convey Bear's deteriorating mental state. We might see body horror elements, or disturbing visual metaphors for self-harm and possession, pushing the boundaries of what a "wish" can truly cost.

The runtime difference, while only 11 minutes, also subtly hints at this divergence. The Banished at 97 minutes might be a leaner, more focused atmospheric piece, while Obsession at 108 minutes could afford more time to develop its psychological complexities and escalate the consequences of its central wish. The shared "Horror" genre is the anchor, but everything else—from the source of the dread to how it's conveyed—seems to drift apart.

Honest Verdict: Who Should Watch Which?

The issame.com similarity index of 56% for The Banished and Obsession is, in essence, a starting point for curiosity rather than a definitive statement of kinship. The films share a thematic interest in human vulnerability against overwhelming, sinister forces, but their approaches are distinct enough to appeal to very different horror aficionados. The similarity is more superficial in terms of direct plot or stylistic execution, but meaningful in their shared exploration of characters being consumed by dark forces.

**You should watch The Banished if: **

• You are a devotee of folk horror and appreciate its specific brand of dread.
• You enjoy atmospheric, slow-burn horror that prioritizes mood and setting over jump scares.
• You're open to independent, potentially raw or experimental filmmaking and don't require high production polish or a universally acclaimed narrative.
• You like stories about survival against primal, ancient evil in isolated, unforgiving landscapes.
• You're curious about a film that might have a niche appeal, perhaps waiting to be discovered by a specific audience.

**You should watch Obsession if: **

• You crave psychological horror that delves into the darkest corners of the human mind.
• You appreciate clever, character-driven thrillers with a strong supernatural element.
• You enjoy stories where choices have terrifying, insidious consequences, especially those involving wishes or Faustian bargains.
• You prefer a more polished, well-received film with a compelling narrative and effective scares that come from internal torment and existential dread.
• You're intrigued by themes of unrequited love twisting into something monstrous, possession, and the unraveling of sanity.

In short, if you want your horror to be a primal scream against an ancient, external wilderness, reach for The Banished. If you prefer a twisted whisper of desire that unravels the self from within, Obsession is your pick. The similarity index flags a shared, fundamental horror premise, but the journey each film takes you on is wildly different.

FAQ

Q: Are The Banished and Obsession part of the same cinematic universe or connected in any way? A: No, these films are entirely separate productions. They have different directors, casts, and distinct premises, with no shared narrative elements or characters that would suggest a connection beyond being standalone horror films.

Q: Which film is genuinely scarier, or delivers more impactful horror? A: That largely depends on your personal definition of "scary." The Banished likely aims for a deep, atmospheric dread typical of folk horror, a slow burn that unsettles rather than shocks. Obsession, being psychological horror with a thriller bent, is designed to disturb and unnerve through character degradation, mounting paranoia, and the insidious corruption of desire, which many find intensely impactful.

Q: Given their similar "horror" genre, do they share any common horror tropes? A: While both use supernatural elements, their specific tropes diverge. The Banished will likely lean into isolation, unknown entities, and nature as a threat, common in folk horror. Obsession will explore themes like cursed objects, possession, psychological breakdown, and the dark side of desire, typical of psychological and supernatural thrillers.

TL;DR

• **Verdict: ** While both deal with characters consumed by sinister forces, The Banished offers primal folk horror from external dread, while Obsession delivers a psychological nightmare stemming from twisted desire.
• **Best for The Banished: ** Fans of atmospheric, raw folk horror; those who appreciate niche, slow-burn dread in isolated settings.
• **Best for Obsession: ** Viewers who prefer polished psychological horror, character-driven thrillers, and tales of wishes gone terrifyingly wrong.
• **Similarity Index: ** The ~56% overlap reflects a shared fundamental horror premise, but execution and target audience are very distinct.

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Editorial disclosure: this comparison was drafted by AI using TMDB data and may contain errors—see Disclaimer.