This summer, watch out for Curry Barker’s “Obsession,” an ingeniously nasty little horror film that will introduce audiences to a unique genre filmmaker. Focus Features acquired U.S. rights for “Obsession” in September at TIFF, in a deal said to be around $15M.
Someone at A24 must have seen “Obsession”; the studio just hired him to direct their “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” reboot.
Last year, the battle for the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise heated up. A flurry of studios and filmmakers pitched their takes in hopes of securing the horror IP, with as many as eight proposals circulating. A24 ultimately prevailed.
This “reimagining” is being described as a “fresh take” on the classic IP originally perpetrated on terrified audiences by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel. A24 wants to revitalize it for the modern era.
Barker’s hiring seals his rapid ascent in the genre. His background is directing microbudget and online horror work, which went viral and led to his directing “Obsession.” Variety frames his “Texas Chainsaw” hiring as part of Barker’s “mainstream Hollywood takeover.”
“Texas Chainsaw” is still in early development, with no casting or plot specifics announced yet. If you can believe it, Barker has already lined up his sophomore feature, “Anything But Ghosts,” this one set up at Paramount, with Jason Blum and Roy Lee producing — it’s currently shooting.
Barker is yet another YouTube breakout transitioning to cinema. He’s the brains behind 2024’s $800 DIY short “Milk & Serial” (2M views and counting). He knows how to stage a jump scare, balance horror and comedy, lean into the unhinged, and maybe that’s what A24 is looking for in this next “Texas Chainsaw” movie.