If you’ve spent any time on the “That’s a Bad Idea” YouTube channel or lost sleep over the viral hit Milk & Serial, you know Curry Barker has a knack for making the mundane feel deeply threatening. Now, Barker is making his big-studio leap with Obsession. The supernatural horror flick that has critics swooning and audiences checking under their beds.
Landing in theaters today, May 15, 2026, the film has already secured a 96% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It seems Barker’s jump from YouTube sensation to Blumhouse director was a very good idea.
Be Careful What You Wish For (Seriously)
The film follows Bear (Michael Johnston). He’s a lonely music store employee who is tired of playing second fiddle in his friend Nikki’s (Inde Navarrette) life. In a moment of desperation, Bear makes a wish using a mysterious, slightly too creepy toy to win Nikki’s heart.
In the world of horror, “sweet” wishes are usually a tactical error. Bear’s wish is granted, but the results are less “rom-com” and more “run-for-your-life.” It turns out that when you use a cursed object to manipulate human emotion, the universe tends to send a very violent bill.
A New Breed of Horror
Barker brings his signature style—honed through millions of views and a DIY horror pedigree—to a larger canvas. Alongside Johnston and Navarrette, the film features Darius Marcell and Julian Works, who help navigate a script that proves the most dangerous threats often come in small, seemingly innocent packages.
Why it’s a “Bad Idea” to miss it:
If you liked the “found footage” grit of Barker’s earlier work, Obsession brings that same unsettling energy to a polished Blumhouse production. The toy moves the “creepy object” subgenre forward with some genuinely disturbing sequences. And get this, you can own a “One Wish Willow” for yourself (here’s how).
A 96% score is no fluke; the film is being praised for its atmosphere and the way it handles the weight of its supernatural consequences.
A Taste of the Horrors to Come
To celebrate the release, two new clips have arrived. In the first, titled “Nice Date,” we see just how scary Obsession can be. In the second clip, “Freaky Nikki,” Bear questions if she even really likes him, but it looks like she only has one thing on her mind.
Obsession aims to be a relentless look at the price of desire. It’s officially out in theaters now, so skip the dinner date and go straight to the cinema—maybe just be careful what you wish for.
