Curry Barker on Franchising Obsession and the Darkness in Comedy
Before 26-year-old filmmaker Curry Barker dipped his toes into horror with the no-budget YouTube sensation Milk & Serialhe was a part of a sketch comedy duo referred to as “That’s a Bad Idea.” With ObsessionBarker continues a rising pattern of comedians turning to horror for his or her large theatrical debuts, following the likes of Jordan Peele, Zach Creggerand the Philippou brothers. But what makes comedians so nice at horror?
“I feel like there’s a darkness in comedy. So you see those [horror] sensibilities there already,” Barker explains. “As a comic, you are always learning the human situation, you are always learning ‘how can I make enjoyable of people?’ When you are at all times learning the psychology of why folks do issues, [those skills] lends itself very well to horror.”
Related: Best Horror Movies of 2026
Perhaps then it should not have been a shock to Barker when Milk & Serial made Variety’s list of the best horror films of 2024alongside titles like The Substance and Nosferatu. “I can’t believe [Milk & Serial] is being compared to movies with huge theatrical releases… There was zero budget for it, it was a hobby project. Not only did it not feel like a real movie to me, it felt like an old movie [Barker sat on the movie for a year]. Posting it online was like a ‘whatever.‘”
What is not a “whatever” is his newest movie, Obsessionwhich has already turn into a critical and business success, scoring higher critiques than another horror movie of the yr (do not consider us? Check out our guide!). Despite its rapturous reception, it began with humble beginnings as a brief movie idea that Barker took an opportunity on and pitched to producer James Harris as a function. “I pitched him Obsessionand I liked it enough. He said write the script and we’ll see.”
So what’s subsequent for Barker? He’s been tapped to write down and direct a Texas Chainsaw Massacre film for A24, and may need plans to franchise Obsession‘s model of a monkey’s paw. “When we created the One Wish Willow, it was something that I kind of thought ‘wouldn’t it be cool if it became a thing?’ And now, [the One Wish Willow] is almost an IP. …Any wish is kind of selfish… So there’s a lot of stories to explore with that.” So if your wish is to see more Obsession movies, it’d simply come true.
Check out the full Seen on the Screen episode above, the place Barker talks about Aaron Sorkin, Obsession‘s ending, and what it was wish to shoot at the identical music store as Wayne’s World.
Obsession it’s in theaters in all places. Buy tickets now on Fandango.
Seen on the Screen is a Universal Entertainment and Fandango podcast sequence hosted by Jacqueline Coley, Awards Editor at Rotten Tomatoes.
Claim your ticket to witness the private narratives occurring behind the scenes of movie and leisure! Each episode invitations you into intimate conversations with filmmakers, actors, and trade insiders. Blending sharp cinematic trivia with thoughtfully crafted interview questions, Jacqueline leads every visitor by a wealthy, reflective journey into their lifelong relationship with leisure. From the formative movie-going experiences that formed their creative worldview to their career-defining strikes — asking them to replicate on the movies which have rocked their world, scared the daylights out of them, and modified them endlessly.
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