Reviewed by: Mary Helene Hall
Curry Barker’s new film ‘Obsession’ hits theaters this week: What you need to know
Reading time: 4 minutes
One of the most anticipated movies of the year hits theaters this weekend.
Alabama native Curry Barker is the writer and director behind the film “Obsession” which opens in theaters Friday, May 15. The movie premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2025, earning runner-up in the People’s Choice Award.
Early reviews are praising the movie, earning “Obsession” a 96% from 94 reviews on the critic aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.
“I wanted to take a story we’ve all seen before — a wish story — and ground it in the real world, flipping it on its head to make something completely new. I love putting ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, but what matters just as much is that every character reacts in natural, believable ways.”
Curry Barker
Keep reading for more information on the movie + Barker’s roots in Alabama.
Obsession movie premieres this weekend
“Obsession” is considered a supernatural horror film that tells the story of a group of friends learning the lesson of “be careful for what you wish for.”
Bear (Michael Johnston) has had a longtime crush on his best friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) but he’s never found the courage to tell her how he feels. Determined to finally make his move, Bear searches for the perfect gift. While browsing his local crystal shop, a curious novelty catches his eye, a “One Wish Willow,” an item said to grant its holder a single wish.
“With ‘Obsession,’ I wanted to tell a story about how far someone’s fixation on another person can go. At what point does something we call love stop being love? And beyond that, what does the word ‘love’ even mean?”
Curry Barker
Best friends and coworkers Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) and Sara (Megan Lawless) are rightfully skeptical to see their two platonic friends become a couple overnight. Nikki seems to have been put under some sort of trance.
Her devotion only seems to get more intense and dangerous to those who decide to get in the way of their relationship. And as Bear begins to realize that Nikki is no longer behaving like herself, he tries to reverse the damage he has created from his seemingly innocent wish, while concealing this secret from everyone.
In “Obsession,” the consequences of getting exactly what you wish for come to life.
“I didn’t want to dictate how the audience should feel or point to what’s right or wrong. Instead, my goal was to present the story honestly and let the audience wrestle with it themselves. I want people leaving the theater still talking — arguing over how they felt, what they would have done differently, and whether what they saw was love or obsession.”
Curry Barker
Alabama native Curry Barker
Curry Barker is now based in Los Angeles, but he’s originally from Mobile.
He first stepped into the spotlight in a comedy duo with one of his “Obsession” stars, Cooper Tomlinson. As “That’s a Bad Idea,” the pair amassed a loyal following via sketches released on YouTube.
First, the Barker-directed short film, “The Chair,” accumulated over nine million views on YouTube. Then came Milk & Serial, the horror feature directed by and starring Barker, starring Tomlinson, that went on to become a viral sensation.
The film made a big impression on Hollywood, which in turn helped Barker get “Obsession,” his first theatrical feature, off the ground.
“There’s a fresh, infectious energy Curry brings to the set that feels like making a movie in the backyard with your friends but with total clarity of vision. He’s very hands-on because of his background, showing up with detailed images for every shot, yet he still invites us to play and discover the scene together.”
Michael Johnston, actor in “Obsession”
As an actor, Barker has appeared in “Dave,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “B-Side for Taylor.” Up next, he will write, direct and star in “Anything But Ghosts,” produced by Jason Blum, Roy Lee and Steven Schneider.
