Obsessed
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fatal Attraction "lite" too risque for young teens.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Obsessed
Community Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Perfect for older kids i.e. above 18
Report this review
Report this review
What's the Story?
Derek Charles (Idris Elba) has a seemingly perfect life. He's an attractive, affluent money manager with a gorgeous wife named Sharon (Beyonce Knowles), a beautiful toddler son, and a brand-new house. Enter sultry office temp Lisa (Ali Larter), who has her predatory eyes set on Derek from the start. When Sharon first meets Lisa, it's obvious to her that the new employee has a thing for her husband. After some flirtatious banter, iffy office coversations, and wildly inappropriate behavior at the office Christmas party, Lisa starts to imagine that she and Derek are having an affair. So she starts stalking Derek and ruining his happy, successful life.
Is It Any Good?
OBSESSED has an entertaining camp value that saves it from falling completely flat, but it's not nearly as memorable as '80s cultural touchstone Fatal Attraction. Elba, who's a riveting actor (see the first three seasons of HBO's The Wire) deserving of much better roles, is never guilty of even a one-night-stand, unlike Attraction's Michael Douglas. Without that all-important consensual betrayal (and the lack of anything nearly as creepy as a dead rabbit), it's difficult to feel any sympathy for Lisa, the way audiences initially felt for Glenn Close's woman scorned. Poor Derek is simply a victim of a crazy woman's psychosexual delusions, instead of the much more interesting character he would have been had he (almost understandably) accepted Lisa's ridiculously aggressive advances. After all, his wife was once his assistant, too, so he's certainly not above falling for a sexy subordinate.
Ultimately, the whole thing is basically a 90-minute prelude to the much-hyped girlfight between Lisa and Sharon, who's not about to let a nutty vamp destroy her family. For many viewers (as evidenced by at least one audience's adulatory applause and whooping), that showdown is all that matters. But for anyone who still feels a little chill every time they think of a frizzy-haired Close springing up in the bathtub, Obsessed is a midlly amusing disappointment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's messages about relationships and sexuality. Do you think it reinforces stereotypes or tries to undermine them?
What role does technology play in the plot? Do you know anyone who's been stalked in real life or online? What steps can people take to protect themselves from obsessive suitors?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 24, 2009
- On DVD or streaming: August 4, 2009
- Cast: Ali Larter, Beyoncé, Idris Elba
- Director: Steve Shill
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Screen Gems
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sexual material including some suggestive dialogue, some violence and thematic content
- Last updated: February 25, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Best Horror Movies
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate