Curry Barker, the 26-year-old filmmaker who made his name on YouTube, has created such a stir in Hollywood that one studio has reportedly attempted to bid $10 million for his next film, despite the project not yet existing.
At this weekend’s box office, Barker's debut feature Obsession pulled off the incredibly rare feat of posting results for its second weekend that were around 30% higher than its opening. The film made $17.2 million when it debuted and $22 million this past weekend.
However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the $10 million bid for his next film will have to wait. Barker signed a deal prior to the release of Obsession with Universal Pictures/Focus Features, which gives their production banner Blumhouse-Atomic Monster the right of first refusal for Barker’s next film.
The Horror Hit 'Obsession'
The buzzy horror Obsession is a new spin on the long-running “be careful what you wish for” trope. In Barker’s film, the main character Bear (Michael Johnston) buys a cursed “One Wish Willow,” which promises to grant its owner one wish. He uses it to force his co-worker and longtime crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), to “love me more than anything in the entire world.” Bear goes on to regret his wish as Nikki becomes scarily obsessed with him, leading to deadly consequences.
The filmmaker has revealed the screenplay was inspired by an episode of The Simpsons that centers around a nightmare Lisa Simpson has about her dad Homer ignoring a shopkeeper’s warning and buying a cursed monkey’s paw.
Critical Reception
In a four-star review, The Independent critic Clarisse Loughrey wrote: “Obsession is delicately handled work, unafraid to find pockets of humor. Customer service is hilariously inept, even when it’s a matter of life or death. But Barker, both as its writer and its director, is also interested in how the dynamic between Bear and Nikki starts to reflect real-life toxicity, and never plays too recklessly where it really matters.”
Loughrey added: “Obsession ultimately triumphs in how willing it is to make two monsters out of its cautionary tale. Bear, the lover boy who’s yearned a little too close to the sun, is repeatedly reminded of the lack of consent in his great wish – at times in literal, startling fashion – and yet his reactions betray just how willing he is to violate that consent when convinced there will be no repercussions. It’s certainly the right topic, then, to tackle in an era of cosmic punishment. Obsession will force this man to take accountability, one way or another.”
