The best horror film I’ve seen so far at TIFF is “Obsession,” Curry Barker’s feature debut, which just premiered at Midnight Madness on Friday night. No surprise, it sparked a bidding war.
I only made the call to attend the midnight screening of “Obsession” after a THR piece dropped 48 hours earlier, reporting that Barker had already lined up his sophomore feature at Paramount with Jason Blum and Roy Lee producing.
Now sources of Deadline’s suggest that Focus Features is reportedly circling U.S. rights for “Obsession” in a deal said to be around $15M, which would mark the fest’s first major acquisition.
Barker, the YouTube breakout behind last year’s $800 DIY short “Milk & Serial” (2M views and counting), delivers a horror-comedy hybrid that’s incredibly unnerving. The premise: Michael Johnston plays Bear, a shy kid who can’t confess his feelings to childhood friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette). Instead, he makes a purchases an antique store toy that grants one wish. Nikki falls for him instantly—but under a curse that flips affection into mania.
What follows is part awkward rom-com, part psychological horror. Navarrette is the real standout here—her performance is deranged, hilarious, and terrifying all at once. She wails, grins, and stalks with a commitment that had the Midnight Madness crowd eating it up.
Johnston grounds the film with reactive awkwardness, his unease playing beautifully against her mania.
“Obsession” is not perfect—the concept stretches thin in places—but Barker shows serious chops. He knows how to stage a jump scare, balance horror and comedy, and lean into creepiness that recalls, most of all, Parker Finn’s “Smile.” It’s the kind of messy but electric debut that Midnight Madness exists to showcase.
Remember when, back in August, we learned “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” would be playing in only around 350 U.S. theaters, "maybe fewer"? Well, it's fewer. A lot fewer.