Focus Features Acquires Curry Barker's Horror Movie 'Obsession'
Focus Features has secured the rights to 'Obsession', a low-budget horror film directed by YouTube sensation and first-time director Curry Barker. The deal, reportedly worth $14 million, marks a significant step in Barker's career. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, tells the story of a hopeless romantic who makes a Faustian bargain to win his crush's heart, offering a twisted take on the classic adage 'be careful what you wish for'.
Barker, who wrote and directed 'Obsession', drew inspiration from an episode of 'The Simpsons' where Bart gets a monkey paw and causes chaos. The movie stars Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter, with producers including James Harris of Teashop Productions, Haley Nicole Johnson of Under the Shell, and Christian Mercuri of Capstone Pictures. Capstone fully financed the project and represented the worldwide rights, while CAA Media Finance co-repped the domestic rights.
Barker's rise to Hollywood's attention began with his 2024 micro-budget short 'Milk & Serial', which became a viral hit after its free release on YouTube. He's already working on his next project, 'Anything but Ghosts', which he will direct and star in, and co-write with Cooper Tomlinson. Two renowned horror producers, Blumhouse founder Jason Blum and Roy Lee, joined the film's production days before its debut at TIFF.
Before releasing 'Obsession' in 2026, Focus Features has an exciting 2025 lineup, including Chloe Zhao's 'Hamnet', Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone's 'Bugonia', and the Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson-led musical 'Song Sung Blue'. This diverse slate showcases Focus Features' commitment to delivering a range of captivating films to audiences worldwide.
