Curry Barker is quickly emerging as one of horror’s most notable new voices. Even mega-producer Jason Blum has praised Barker as one of the most exciting horror filmmakers working today. With his latest film, Obsession, now playing, Barker sat down to discuss the project, his approach to horror, and what’s next.
To begin, Barker opened up about his longtime creative partnership with Cooper Tomlinson, who stars in the film alongside a cast of talented new actors, revealing that their collaboration dates all the way back to their time in film school before the pair ultimately decided to leave and pursue filmmaking full time. Barker explained that after dropping out, the two began creating content together, eventually launching their sketch comedy brand “That’s A Bad Idea,” which helped build their audience online and laid the groundwork for future projects like Obsession. Watch the clip below.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Barker reflected on the breakout success of his low-budget horror film Milk & Cereal, which gained significant traction online and helped introduce his work to a wider audience. When asked whether the viral response marked the moment Hollywood began taking notice, Barker admitted he believes it was the project that pushed him into the mainstream conversation, particularly as industry publications and entertainment outlets began paying attention to his work and creative voice. Watch the clip below.
The momentum continued to build as Barker spoke about receiving early praise from influential horror producer Jason Blum, who has described him as one of the most exciting emerging voices in the genre. Barker said the support has been deeply meaningful to him, adding that Blum has been “awesome” in championing his work. He also teased that their relationship is far from a one-off collaboration, noting that the two are expected to continue working together on future projects as his profile in the horror space continues to grow. Watch the clip below.
In casting his lead for Obsession, Barker also detailed how he discovered his actor for Bear, played by Michael Johnston. Barker explained that Johnston was initially on a casting shortlist, but what really caught his attention most was his voice itself, which Barker described as uniquely compelling and emotionally textured. That quality, combined with a subtle edge of darkness he sensed in the actor’s presence, ultimately made him feel Johnston was the perfect fit for Bear, a character who required both vulnerability and an undercurrent of unease. Watch the clip below.
In discussing the film’s more extreme edges, Barker revealed that one particular sequence (SPOILER ALERT!) involving the character Sarah nearly pushed Obsession into NC-17 territory. Barker said the scene, in its original cut, was significantly more intense, ultimately forcing him to pull back on certain elements in order to avoid the restrictive rating. He noted that while the moment remains one of the film’s most charged, the adjustments were necessary to preserve the film’s broader accessibility without losing the emotional and psychological weight that made the sequence effective in the first place. Watch the clip below.
Rounding out the conversation, Barker briefly touched on his ambitions beyond Obsession, pointing to a clear desire to continue expanding within the horror genre while also pushing into new creative territory. He also teased upcoming work tied to A24’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre project, as well as Anything But Ghosts, signaling a busy slate ahead as he builds on his momentum and continues shaping his voice across both established franchises and original material. Watch the clip below.
‘Obsession’ is now playing in theaters.
