Obsession Director Locks In Follow-Up: Anything but Ghosts

Horror director Curry Barker is building a shared world: Anything but Ghosts will take place in the same universe as Obsession.

Obsession: The Indie Horror Hit That’s Absolutely Everywhere

Somehow, against all odds, this microbudget horror flick called Obsession—directed, written, and basically willed into being by online superstar Curry Barker—has completely taken over cinemas and the internet since its release on 15 May. I am not exaggerating: they made this thing for just $750,000, and two weeks in, it’s already pulled in a frankly ridiculous $95 million worldwide. That is bonkers. If you want the critics’ verdict: it sits at 96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and at this point phrases like 'modern masterpiece' have been thrown around more than once. So, yes—everyone has well and truly lost their minds for this film.

The Plot (Because Guess What: It Gets Even Weirder)

If you've not seen Obsession—and, again, spoilers—here’s the premise. Main character Bear (played by Michael Johnston, who nails the part) is a mostly invisible music shop employee completely besotted with his crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrett). At his wit’s end, he tries out a supposedly magic 'One Wish Willow' toy (as you do), which supposedly gives you one wish. His wish? That Nikki falls for him. It works—sort of. She does start loving him back, but in the most absolutely off-the-rails, homicidal way possible. What was meant to be a fantasy quickly spirals: Nikki, under the influence of whatever supernatural curse is at play, becomes uncontrollably obsessed, violence erupts, and Bear’s dream relationship unravels into a full-blown nightmare. The film climaxes with Bear overdosing (deliberately), which mercifully breaks the spell and finally snaps Nikki out of the madness—but at a horrific cost, leaving her shattered and surrounded by death.

What’s Next? Yes, There’s a Sequel—Sort Of

Given how definitively the first film wraps up (Bear dead, Nikki traumatised, curse ended), you’d be forgiven for thinking that’s the end of it. But no—Curry Barker is clearly not finished with this universe. The next film he’s making, Anything but Ghosts, takes place in the same world as Obsession. During a post-screening Q&A, Barker let slip that there’s a clever easter egg tying the two movies together. Apparently, in Anything but Ghosts, you can hear a news anchor referencing 'a triple homicide by a woman'—which is a direct nod to what happened to Nikki during her supernatural rampage. This is not just a throwaway detail; it cements that both stories are happening in one extended timeline. Still, the new film won't pick up where Obsession left off—it focuses on different characters and a fresh horror scenario.

'There’s a news article thing on the next movie where you hear a news anchor talking about a triple homicide [by] a woman.'

So, What Is Anything but Ghosts Actually About?

If you’re expecting another cursed-love story, think again. This time out, Barker and his longtime writing partner Cooper Tomlinson have whipped up a story about two con artists who pretend to be ghost hunters for a living. Naturally, things go south when they stumble across a genuinely dangerous supernatural entity—you know, real ghosts, real consequences, that sort of thing. Both Barker and Tomlinson are starring, alongside a surprisingly heavyweight cast: Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Violet McGraw are all on board. Not exactly slumming it, in other words.

The film is being put together with a bit more muscle: it’s a collaboration with Focus and Blumhouse’s Atomic Monster, so this is definitely Barker’s graduation to the big leagues. Right now, Anything but Ghosts is in post-production, but there’s no release date on the books just yet.

Cast: Who’s In Obsession?

• Michael Johnston as Bear (doomed romantic, main character)
• Inde Navarrett as Nikki (the object of affection—and eventual source of carnage)