Love Turns Lethal in ‘Obsession’ as Curry Barker Drops Sinister New Trailer

A new poster and trailer for Obsession have landed, offering a fresh look at writer-director Curry Barker’s breakout supernatural thriller ahead of its UK and US cinema release on 15 May. Positioned as a cautionary tale about desire and control, the film arrives with significant momentum following its Midnight Madness premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

Barker’s feature centres on Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a shy music shop employee who makes a reckless decision in pursuit of love. After breaking a mysterious artefact known as the “One Wish Willow”, Bear wishes for his childhood friend and co-worker Nikki, portrayed by Inde Navarrette, to return his feelings. The fantasy initially unfolds as hoped, but the consequences quickly spiral into something far darker. Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter round out the principal cast.

The newly released trailer leans heavily into unease, contrasting adolescent longing with creeping dread. Visually, the film adopts a deliberately disquieting style. Barker collaborated with cinematographer Taylor Clemons to frame scenes in a rigid, centre-composed format with exaggerated headroom, creating a sense of emotional isolation around its protagonist. Production designer Vivian Gray remodelled a Burbank property to serve as Bear’s home, shaping a space that feels at once ordinary and subtly oppressive.

The project marks a significant step for Barker, who previously gained attention online with his short film The Chair. Inspired in part by a classic monkey’s paw scenario from The Simpsons, Barker developed Obsession over an eight-month writing process while working closely with producer James Harris of Tea Shop Productions. Rather than expand his short into a feature, Barker pitched an original idea, ultimately attracting backing from Tea Shop Productions alongside Haley Nicole Johnson, Christian Mercuri, Roman Viaris and Mark Lane. Under the Shell and Capstone Studios also served as production companies.

The film’s TIFF debut triggered strong distributor interest, with Focus Features closing a deal reportedly worth over $15 million. Universal Pictures International will handle distribution outside the United States, excluding select territories. Jason Blum joined the project as executive producer under the Blumhouse Productions banner, further amplifying industry attention.

Following a teaser release in December, this week’s full trailer signals the final push towards the May 15 theatrical launch. Early critical reactions from festival screenings have pointed to Barker as a filmmaker to watch, praising his control of tone and his willingness to twist romantic wish fulfilment into something deeply unsettling.

Obsession trailer