Curry Barker Discusses ‘Obsession’ Anthology Series and Potential Sequel
Curry Barker’s horror film ‘Obsession’ has made a strong debut at the box office, raking in an estimated $15 million during its opening weekend for Focus Features. This impressive performance has ignited discussions about the future of the story, including the possibility of a sequel or even a broader franchise expansion, especially if it continues to perform well on streaming and other platforms.
In a recent interview, Barker shared his thoughts on how the world of ‘Obsession’ could evolve. He also candidly addressed a flaw in the film’s central premise, noting that the supernatural concept behind the ‘One Wish Willow’ doesn’t entirely hold up under scrutiny.
The film features Michael Johnston as Bear, a young man who uses a magical object known as the ‘One Wish Willow.’ He wishes for his crush, Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, to love him more than anyone else. While the wish is granted, it quickly spirals into a dark, obsessive, and violent scenario.
Barker pointed out in the interview that the premise raises a significant question. If such a wish-granting object truly existed, the world would likely be chaotic from everyone making wishes. He acknowledged that the logic doesn’t fully align within the film’s universe.
“I mean, it’s kind of a plot hole. It’s something I don’t like to think about too much, because it totally doesn’t make sense that there’s a world of people just making wishes,” he remarked in the Total Film interview.
He further elaborated, “If the One Wish Willow actually works, which it does in this lore, and people are just making wishes left and right, there would be some crazy—like, dragons would exist. And none of that. The world is pretty normal from what we see in this movie. So, it doesn’t really make sense.”
Barker proposed one possible explanation he has considered, although he admits it doesn’t completely resolve the issue.
“Here’s my take; every time someone makes a wish, they enter into an alternate reality where their wish comes true, so you’re not experiencing everybody’s wish at the same time. And that’s why—but that doesn’t make sense because the money falls from the ceiling. Yeah, it’s broken,” he explained.
Despite acknowledging the flaw, Barker expressed that he isn’t overly concerned and has even used it as a springboard for further story expansion.
He mentioned that while a sequel is a possibility, he is more intrigued by the idea of transforming ‘Obsession’ into an anthology project. This concept would allow each new story to focus on a different character using the ‘One Wish Willow’ and facing their unique consequences. Each episode or film could delve into a new wish and a distinct horror outcome.
“I obviously have a couple more things that I’m excited about next, but I do see Obsession 2, maybe. Or even what really is exciting to me is maybe an anthology, like a one-hour episode,” Barker shared. He added, “Each episode is a different wish that goes completely off the rails. Maybe I’ll direct the pilot with the same DP, and you could invite other filmmakers to kind of give their spin at it. That would be really cool.”
This idea paves the way for a much larger universe centered around the same cursed object, featuring different characters and narratives all interconnected by the same perilous concept. The film hints that the ‘One Wish Willow’ may be linked to a deeper force, potentially something supernatural or even demonic, though it never fully clarifies this aspect.
With its strong opening and increasing audience interest, ‘Obsession’ appears poised to evolve beyond a standalone film. Whether it transitions into a sequel or an anthology series, Barker’s vision indicates there is still a wealth of story left to uncover.
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