Before ‘Obsession’ Made Her a Scream Queen, Inde Navarrette Dominated ‘Call of Duty’ on Twitch
Horror has a unique knack for introducing stars who seem to emerge fully formed and impossible to overlook. In a year filled with standout performances, none have captured the cultural spotlight quite like Inde Navarrette’s role in ‘Obsession’. The film has become a true phenomenon, with Navarrette at its forefront.
Released by Focus Features on May 15, this Blumhouse-produced supernatural horror has achieved an impressive 96% on the Tomatometer and a 94% on the Popcornmeter, along with an A-minus CinemaScore. It stands out as one of the most critically and commercially successful genre films in recent times. ‘Obsession’ has now become the highest-grossing film in Focus Features history, amassing over $224.7 million worldwide against a modest production budget of just $750,000.
As the internet delves into who Inde Navarrette is, an entertaining backstory has emerged. Before the red carpets and rave reviews, she was a dedicated ‘Call of Duty’ player quietly dominating lobbies on Twitch.
Navarrette began her Twitch journey under the username “indenavarrette,” starting on July 8, 2022. While she played various titles, her impressive skills in the ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ franchise caught viewers’ attention, with clips showcasing her effortlessly navigating multiplayer matches and taking down opponents.
Her love for gaming has a charming origin. In an interview with GQ, Navarrette shared that gaming started as a family activity: “We started on the PS2, and we would play Shrek games in Big Head mode with my mom. Then I would branch off by myself to play campaign games.” This natural progression led her to Twitch during the Covid lockdowns, inspired by YouTube creators like Markiplier. She built her own PC, explaining, “If I’m not working on a show and I love playing video games by myself and with friends, then why not stream? It became a lot of fun.”
The resurgence of her old streams has resonated with audiences, offering an unguarded glimpse of the actress. It’s fitting that the woman delivering one of the most intense horror performances of the year was once a Twitch regular donning a Toad hat while racking up ‘Call of Duty’ killstreaks.
As her clips went viral, Navarrette returned to streaming, playing ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘Outlast’ with a packed schedule that includes fan-voted game selections, signaling her commitment to gaming for the long haul. The internet’s enthusiasm for this side of her has been met with warm reception.
None of this would resonate as strongly if ‘Obsession’ weren’t such an extraordinary film. Directed and written by Curry Barker, ‘Obsession’ follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, who wishes on a novelty toy called a One Wish Willow for his longtime friend Nikki to love him more than anything. The wish is granted, but with sinister and gory consequences, and Navarrette’s performance has led to her being described as a “scream queen in the making.”
The film opened to $17 million in its debut weekend, then grew to $23 million in its second weekend, and $26.4 million in its third, showcasing an almost unprecedented pattern of growth for horror releases, which typically see sharp declines after opening. Producer Jason Blum noted this extraordinary trajectory, stating, “No movie has done that, gone up two weekends in a row, since E.T.”
Navarrette herself spoke to Deadline about the complexity of her character, saying, “It meant a lot to me, and I really wanted to take it seriously. I didn’t want to shy away from anything about that, so I really sat with Nikki for quite some time.”
This combination makes the Twitch revelation feel more than just a fun celebrity tidbit. The same person who builds her own PC and excels in ‘Call of Duty’ is the one who embraced a deeply uncomfortable character and chose not to take the easy route. Both aspects align perfectly.
Let us know in the comments if you were already following Inde Navarrette before ‘Obsession’ took off, and whether you plan to catch her return to Twitch.