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 collection from JT Mollner and Glen Powell. And throughout 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 any case, horror films are having a second proper now, serving to bolster the field workplace and successful main awards. Additionally they appear to be catnip for a brand new technology 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). Once 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 totally different horror films 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.
Curry Barker is aware of to not put the metaphorical cart earlier than the horse
“Obsession” shouldn’t be a frivolous horror film. In reality, it is chock stuffed with social commentary and addresses subjects like abuse, company, self-harm, and extra. But Curry Barker shouldn’t be the kind of artist to place the cart earlier than the horse and start his movies with an inventory of themes or messages in thoughts. As he defined:
“I strive to not write with the message in it an excessive amount of, as a result of then as a substitute of being centered on telling story, you are centered on, ‘How can I push the message?’ […] Should you strive too exhausting to return at it like, ‘Oh, in ‘Texas Chain Noticed,’ I’ll make this the message,’ the story’s going to endure.”
A method Barker seeks to keep away from letting the story endure for his subsequent movies is by pivoting to materials which has a special really feel than his earlier work. With regards to his subsequent image, “Something However Ghosts,” Barker was adamant that your entire tone of the piece needs to be distinct from “Obsession,” but would nonetheless retain a variety of what persons are loving about his work up to now:
“After doing ‘Obsession,’ I shortly began writing ‘Ghosts’ with Cooper [Tomlinson] as a result of I used to be like, ‘I need to do one thing that is so totally different than Obsession.’ […] It was so thrilling to deal with one thing that was so totally different than ‘Obsession,’ however you may nonetheless anticipate it to have that bizarre tone, and you’ll nonetheless anticipate it to be scary. The comedy should not change the horror. So it is so totally different.”
With this, Barker seems to display a wholesome and fertile artistic outlook. He is not cynically chasing success or notoriety, however is trying to inform tales with depth that he is personally obsessed with.
Barker sees the horror style as limitless
What’s particularly thrilling for us horror followers, and extra particularly followers of Curry Barker’s work up to now, is that he is not curious about exploring just one kind of horror movie. Just like the greats earlier than him, Barker understands that the horror style has a breadth in contrast to some other style. Once I requested him what about horror conjures up 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 possibly can’t do that, you may’t try this as a result of then it is a horror. You possibly can’t do that, you may’t try this as a result of then it is rated R, no matter, proper? Whereas this style could possibly be something. You could possibly make a pirate film that is a horror film. You could possibly make a romantic film that turns right into a horror film. You could possibly make a spy film that turns right into a horror film. That is bizarre, however you could possibly, 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 isn’t going to lazily repeat himself. Neither is he going to censor himself, both, as he identified:
“Making [Obsession] felt like a bunch of youngsters getting collectively and no grownup supervision and form 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 form 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 may see, Barker makes it sound like he’ll be thrilling us for a protracted whereas.
“Obsession” is in theaters in every single place.
