Focus Features has acquired “Obsession,” a low-budget horror film from YouTube breakout and first-time director Curry Barker. The deal reportedly closed for $14 million.
Barker wrote and directed “Obsession” in his feature debut. The movie, which premiered in the midnights section of the Toronto International Film Festival, follows a hopeless romantic who makes a Faustian bargain to win his crush’s heart. A twisted take on the adage “be careful what you wish for,” Barker previously told Variety that inspiration struck after watching an episode of “The Simpsons” where “Bart gets a monkey paw and causes a bunch of chaos.”
Focus Features will release “Obsession” in theaters in 2026. Universal Pictures International is set to handle overseas distribution in all territories except France, New Zealand and Russia.
“Obsession” stars Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter. Producers include James Harris of Teashop Productions, Haley Nicole Johnson of Under the Shell, and Christian Mercuri of Capstone Pictures. Capstone represented worldwide rights and fully financed the project. CAA Media Finance co-repped domestic rights with Capstone.
Barker landed on Hollywood’s radar with 2024’s micro-budget short “Milk & Serial,” which became a viral hit after he released the film for free on YouTube. He’s already lined up his next project, “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he’s set to direct and star, as well as co-write the script with Tomlinson. Two prolific horror producers, Blumhouse founder Jason Blum and Roy Lee, boarded the film days before “Obsession” debuted at TIFF.
Before the specialty studio unveils “Obsession” next year, Focus Features has a 2025 slate that includes Chloe Zhao’s “Hamnet,” Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone’s latest collaboration “Bugonia” and the Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson-led musical “Song Sung Blue.”