Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to OBSESSION, Curry Barker’s debut horror film, which premiered in the midnight section of the Toronto International Film Festival. The film will be released in 2026. Universal Pictures International is set to handle international distribution.
Hailed out of Toronto as a provocative and wildly entertaining vision with a sharp style, the film signals the arrival of a bold new voice in horror.
Logline: After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
Writer/Director: Curry Barker
Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter
Producers: James Harris (Teashop Productions), Haley Nicole Johnson (Under the Shell), Christian Mercuri on behalf of Capstone Pictures
Sales/Rep: Capstone represented the world and fully financed the project. CAA Media Finance co-repped domestic rights with Capstone.
Focus Features’ upcoming slate includes auteur-driven works like Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, based the New York Times bestselling novel, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley; Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons; and Song Sung Blue, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.
Barker is represented by UTA, Underground, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein Kohner, Endlich, Goodell & Gellman. Johnston is represented by Tash Moseley Management. Navarrette is represented by CAA. Tomlinson is represented by Canopy Media Partners, Paradigm, and Yorn Levine. Richter is represented by Gersh, Brillstein and Matt Walerstein.
OBSESSION will now also screen for fans at the inaugural FocusFest hosted on the iconic Universal Studios Lot.
· The inaugural event, hosted by film lover and TikTok star, Juju Green (aka @straw_hat_goofy), will spotlight a curated lineup of Focus’s most celebrated films including cult classic The Big Lebowski, Academy Award®-winning Promising Young Woman, and a special advance screening of one of the year’s most anticipated films, Bugonia from Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons which has been hailed for its daring vision and standout performances following its electric World Premiere in Cannes and acclaimed runs at the Venice and Telluride film festivals.
· Beyond the big screen, attendees will step into the worlds of these films through immersive photo moments, themed food and beverage offerings, and a curation of exclusive merchandise drops inspired by the Focus library.
· Attendees will also be able to be the first to step onto the F-Stop, Focus’s immersive traveling airstream featuring a rotating exhibit of costume and prop displays, cinematic stills gallery, interactive backdrops and exclusive merch.
· The event will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, and tickets are available HERE.
