Milk & Serial filmmaker Curry Barker ignited a bidding war over his latest, Obsession, at the Toronto International Film Festival. Focus Features has officially acquired the film for theatrical release.
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights and will release Obsession in 2026.
In the film, “After breaking the mysterious ‘One Wish Willow’ to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.”
Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter star in the film written and directed by Barker.
Producers include James Harris (Teashop Productions), Haley Nicole Johnson (Under the Shell), Christian Mercuri on behalf of Capstone Pictures.
Before Obsession heads to theaters next year, Focus Features is bringing it to their inaugural FocusFest, hosted on the iconic Universal Studios Lot.
A press release notes that the event will be “hosted by film lover and TikTok star, Juju Green (aka @straw_hat_goofy), will spotlight a curated lineup of Focus’s most celebrated films including cult classic The Big Lebowski, Academy Award®-winning Promising Young Woman, and a special advance screening of one of the year’s most anticipated films, Bugonia from Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons which has been hailed for its daring vision and standout performances following its electric World Premiere in Cannes and acclaimed runs at the Venice and Telluride film festivals.”
The event will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, and tickets are available HERE.
Obsession is definitely a horror movie you’ll want to put on your radar. I wrote in my 4-star TIFF review, “Obsession takes you on a wild ride. While Monkey’s Paw scenarios often yield predictable outcomes, and this outcome is practically telegraphed from the start, Barker manages to surprise with the journey itself. And it’s one insane journey paved with blood-soaked violence and no shortage of nightmare fuel.”