Curry Baker on Franchising 'Obsession' and the Darkness in Comedy

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Before 26-year-old filmmaker Curry Barker dipped his toes into horror with the no-budget YouTube sensation Milk & Serial, he was part of a sketch comedy duo called "That's a Bad Idea." With Obsession, Barker continues a growing trend of comedians turning to horror for their big theatrical debuts, following the likes of Jordan Peele, Zach Cregger, and the Philippou brothers. But what makes comedians so great at horror?

"I feel like there's a darkness in comedy. So you see those [horror] sensibilities there already," Barker explains. "As a comedian, you're constantly studying the human condition, you're constantly studying 'how can I make fun of humans?' When you're always studying the psychology of why people do things, [those skills] lends itself really well to horror."

Releated: Best Horror Movies of 2026

Perhaps then it shouldn't have been a surprise to Barker when Milk & Serial made Variety's list of the best horror films of 2024, alongside 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 isn't a "whatever" is his latest film, Obsession, which has already become a critical and commerial sucess, scoring better reviews than any other horror film of the year (don't believe us? Check out our guide!). Despite its rapturous reception, it started with humble beginnings as a short film concept that Barker took a chance on and pitched to producer James Harris as a feature. "I pitched him Obsession, and he liked it enough. He said write the script and we'll see."

So what's next for Barker? He's been tapped to write and direct a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie for A24, and might have plans to franchise Obsession's version 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 films, it might just come true.

Check out the full Seen on the Screen episode above, where Barker talks about Aaron Sorkin, Obsession's ending, and what it was like to shoot at the same music shop as Wayne's World.

Obsession is in theaters everywhere. Buy tickets now on Fandango.

Seen on the Screen is a Universal Entertainment and Fandango podcast series hosted by Jacqueline Coley, Awards Editor at Rotten Tomatoes.

Claim your ticket to witness the personal narratives happening behind the scenes of film and entertainment! Each episodes invites you into intimate conversations with filmmakers, actors, and industry insiders. Blending sharp cinematic trivia with thoughtfully crafted interview questions, Jacqueline leads each guest through a rich, reflective journey into their lifelong relationship with entertainment. From the formative movie-going experiences that shaped their artistic worldview to their career-defining moves — asking them to reflect on the films that have rocked their world, scared the daylights out of them, and changed them forever.

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