Why Obsession’s Director Is Making Very Totally different Horror Films Subsequent [Exclusive]

Curry Barker’s debut theatrical characteristic, “Obsession,” hits theaters this weekend amidst a flurry of constructive buzz. A majority of us right here at /Movie are in love with the film, and we’re removed from the one ones. As proof, Barker’s subsequent couple tasks have been lined up: the unique horror comedy “Something However Ghosts,” and a characteristic movie reboot of “The Texas Chain Noticed Bloodbath” for A24, which apparently will exist alongside the beforehand introduced TV sequence from JT Mollner and Glen Powell. And in the course of the press cycle for “Obsession,” Barker has additionally expressed affection for “A Nightmare on Elm Avenue,” publicly throwing his hat within the ring to do one thing with that franchise as nicely. With all this, it is clear that Barker is not planning on stepping away from the horror style any time quickly.

The query is whether or not there’s extra to that call than pure typecasting or trend-following. In spite of everything, horror motion pictures are having a second proper now, serving to bolster the field workplace and successful main awards. In addition they appear to be catnip for a brand new era of filmmakers coming from sudden areas, whether or not it is the comedy world (as with Jordan Peele and Zach Cregger) or web fame (as with the Philippou brothers, Kane Parsons, and Barker himself). After I had the chance to speak to Barker one-on-one not too long ago, I requested him level clean what it’s he sees within the style as an artist. The reply was not solely enlightening, it additionally indicated that Barker plans on making very completely different horror motion pictures from right here on out. He sees the style as having near-limitless potential, and that is a top quality which he appears most eager on exploring.

“Obsession” just isn’t a frivolous horror film. Actually, it is chock stuffed with social commentary and addresses subjects like abuse, company, self-harm, and extra. But Curry Barker just isn’t the kind of artist to place the cart earlier than the horse and start his movies with a listing of themes or messages in thoughts. As he defined:

“I attempt to not write with the message in it an excessive amount of, as a result of then as an alternative of being centered on telling a superb story, you are centered on, ‘How can I push the message?’ […] If you happen to attempt too laborious to come back at it like, ‘Oh, in ‘Texas Chain Noticed,’ I will make this the message,’ the story’s going to undergo.”

A technique Barker seeks to keep away from letting the story undergo for his subsequent movies is by pivoting to materials which has a special really feel than his earlier work. In the case of his subsequent image, “Something However Ghosts,” Barker was adamant that the whole tone of the piece needs to be distinct from “Obsession,” but would nonetheless retain a number of what individuals are loving about his work to date:

“After doing ‘Obsession,’ I rapidly began writing ‘Ghosts’ with Cooper [Tomlinson] as a result of I used to be like, ‘I wish to do one thing that is so completely different than Obsession.’ […] It was so thrilling to deal with one thing that was so completely different than ‘Obsession,’ however you’ll be able to nonetheless count on it to have that bizarre tone, and you’ll nonetheless count on it to be scary. The comedy should not change the horror. So it is so completely different.”

With this, Barker seems to exhibit a wholesome and fertile inventive outlook. He isn’t cynically chasing success or notoriety, however is seeking to inform tales with depth that he is personally captivated with.

What’s particularly thrilling for us horror followers, and extra particularly followers of Curry Barker’s work to date, is that he is not all for exploring just one sort of horror movie. Just like the greats earlier than him, Barker understands that the horror style has a breadth in contrast to every other style. After I requested him what about horror evokes him, Barker defined:

“I believe that the horror style is so huge. It is nearly one of many solely genres with no guidelines. A romance has guidelines. You may’t do that, you’ll be able to’t try this as a result of then it is a horror. You may’t do that, you’ll be able to’t try this as a result of then it is rated R, no matter, proper? Whereas this style could possibly be something. You possibly can make a pirate film that is a horror film. You possibly can make a romantic film that turns right into a horror film. You possibly can make a spy film that turns right into a horror film. That is bizarre, however you might, proper? There is no actual limits. So this style is so thrilling to me.”

Barker’s ideas on the style appear to point that he is not going to lazily repeat himself. Neither is he going to censor himself, both, as he identified:

“Making [Obsession] felt like a bunch of children getting collectively and no grownup supervision and sort of ready for somebody to be like, ‘You guys cannot do that,’ however nobody ever got here. And so we’re like, ‘I suppose we’re simply going to do it.’ […] And I’ve sort of stored that mentality with all the subsequent tasks I am doing. I am simply going to go so far as I would like, after which we’ll see.”

As you’ll be able to see, Barker makes it sound like he’ll be thrilling us for a protracted whereas.

“Obsession” is in theaters all over the place.