Freaky Nikki’s Uncanny Valley Makeup in Obsession Was Inspired by TikTok
So, the good news is that Obsession is currently terrorizing audiences in cinemas. The better news is that the most unsettling thing about it — Freaky Nikki’s face — came from a TikTok trend.
Curry Barker‘s supernatural horror film hit UK cinemas on 15 May 2026 via Universal Pictures International, opening in 487 locations across the UK and Ireland. It stars Inde Navarrette as Nikki, a young woman whose personality gets supernaturally rewired after her childhood friend Bear (Superman & Lois‘ Michael Johnston) wishes on a novelty trinket called the One Wish Willow. The wish goes through. Things go badly.
Obsession
What makes Nikki’s most terrifying scenes work is something called uncanny valley makeup — hashtag #uncannyvalleymakeup — a technique originally popularized by beauty TikToker Emilia Blarth back during Halloween of 2023. Blarth’s videos went viral as other creators tried to perfect the style: enlarging the mouth and pupils while softening surrounding features to give the impression of a lifeless, mannequin-like face.
In practice, Navarrette had her lips and eyebrows covered with skin-tone makeup and false eyes painted onto her eyelids, creating something that reads, when framed correctly, as deeply and wrongly inhuman. Key makeup artist Kate Oja shared behind-the-scenes images of the look on Instagram after the film’s release.
The budget-friendly approach to horror makeup was used to great effect in Obsession, with Navarrette looking nearly unrecognizable after a handful of eerie alterations to her face. That a mainstream horror film found its scariest trick scrolling through TikTok is either the most 2026 thing imaginable or proof that Barker — who came up through YouTube — just knows exactly where to look for this stuff. Probably both.
The film holds a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the BBFC has certified it an 18 for UK audiences. Barker’s name is already circulating in bigger genre circles — he’s since been tapped by A24 to direct a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre reimagining, which, given what he pulled off here on a reported $1 million budget, should be interesting. Barker has already spoken about his plans for the Sawyer family.
Obsession is in UK cinemas now. We’ll keep you posted on updates about Obsession as the project develops.
Chloe Jones is a film and television critic dedicated to providing expert analysis of movies, web series, and the latest in prestige TV. Known for her insightful perspective and deep industry knowledge, Chloe helps audiences navigate the crowded streaming landscape with honesty and expertise. Folow me on letterboxd
