How Obsession director plans different horror next

Curry Barker explains why his next horror will differ

Writer/director Curry Barker, behind Blumhouse’s horror film Obsession, said he’s now developing projects that are intentionally unlike the earlier movie—because he wants each new thriller to feel like its own experience rather than a repeat of the same formula.

The impetus is creative, not marketing. Barker’s upcoming slate is described as “very different,” and the interview frames Obsession as a stepping stone: the work proved something about what audiences will respond to, but it also set a baseline he doesn’t want to simply re-run. Instead, he’s aiming for variety in tone, structure, and scares across future projects.

What “different” could mean here

While no plot specifics are provided in the coverage, the rationale is clear: Barker views horror as a genre where filmmakers can change the rules of what scares—whether that comes from atmosphere versus shocks, character psychology versus spectacle, or mystery-driven tension versus direct confrontation.

Why it matters for viewers

When a director signals that upcoming work won’t recycle the same approach, it affects audience expectations. Fans who liked Obsession may still be drawn in for the Blumhouse-style energy, but they’re being told to prepare for novelty rather than a sequel-like continuation.

This kind of positioning can also help careers: directors who demonstrate range are often more trusted with future budgets and bigger genre experiments.

In short, Barker’s next horror efforts are being planned as a deliberate diversification from Obsession, underlining a goal to keep each project fresh for both audiences and the filmmaker himself.