Curry Barker discusses character development in ‘Obsession’

Director Curry Barker has shared insights into the production of the horror film ‘Obsession’ following its appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival. Barker revealed that test audiences expressed significant frustration with the character Bear, questioning why the protagonist did not take more active steps to research or resolve the supernatural issues occurring in the plot.

Rather than altering the character to fit the traditional horror hero archetype—which would have involved Bear desperately attempting to fix the situation—Barker chose to maintain the character's core traits. Instead, he utilized reshoots to clarify Bear’s motivations, ensuring the audience understood his desire to make the relationship work without changing his fundamental refusal to confront the problem through traditional investigative means.