San Francisco Frontiers - 'Be careful what you wish for': 'Obsession' director and star reflect on success

One year after premiering the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the 26-year-old director returned to the event alongside the film's lead actress, Inde Navarrette.

The pair are still trying to process the gargantuan success of the movie, made on a $750,000 budget and grossing over $500 million at the global box office, turning "Obsession" into one of the most profitable productions in Hollywood history.

"It feels like a one-year anniversary of our lives changing," Barker told AFP.

The film's simple premise involves what happens when a wish comes true.

It follows the character Bear (Michael Johnston), who cannot bring himself to admit his crush on his friend Nikki (Inde Navarette). One night in a bout of frustration he makes a wish on a magic branch: that Nikki loved him as much as he loves her.

When that wish starts to come true, his life takes a turn for the macabre.

"Be careful what you wish for," Barker said with a smile, recognizing the phrase also applies to his film's meteoric success.

"What's funny is that I don't think any of us anticipated how big this movie would become and I think that most of it is a very, very positive thing, and we're so happy that the movie did so well," he said.

But it has not been all sunshine and roses.

"It can get scary, and there's pressure for your next thing," he added.

- 'I love being a meme' -

Barker, who hails from the southern US state of Alabama, got his start in filmmaking by creating videos on YouTube.

He said he is working on "something that I think is cool" for his next project, but feels the weight of the industry watching him this time around.

"Obviously there's the exterior pressure of the world of, 'Hey, you know, your next movie better be as good as this last (one),'" he said.

For Navarrette, the success of the movie has been a roller coaster, but she is "taking it day by day."

It has undoubtedly led to new opportunities -- including the role of Rogue, an X-Men character who can steal other mutants' powers, as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But the rapid ascent to stardom has been dizzying for the 25-year-old actress.

"I think whenever you're being put in a position like this, it's really important to look back at yourself and go, 'Okay, well, what changes can I do to keep that original creativity and to keep what I can, as much as I can, authentically?' Because it's a lot!" Navarrette told AFP.

Some of Navarrette's most outlandish scenes in "Obsession" have gone viral on social media to the point that they have become memes. The phenomenon has surprised the actress, but does not bother her.

"I love being a meme... it's definitely a really fun thing," she said.

- Lesson learned -

The box office success of "Obsession" has been the subject of much debate in Hollywood as the industry continues working to boost theater audiences to levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The barrier for entry is open," Barker said of getting started in the film industry. "I think that's the lesson."

Navarrette for her part is ready to discover the next breakout film.

"I'm really excited to see what comes out of TIFF this year and what comes out of the movies this year.

"We set a precedent of 'you will be understood' and people in our generation do love cinema and they just want to have it, to my knowledge, in a language that they can understand," she said.

J.Martinez--SFF