Curry Barker is going back to where it all started. The director behind this year’s horror hit Obsession is releasing a brand-new short film, Mama Bear, on YouTube, just in time for Halloween.
From YouTube to the Box Office
It’s a fitting move. Barker built his following on YouTube with the sketch channel that’s a bad idea and his found-footage horror film Milk & Serial, which helped show he could deliver real scares on a tiny budget.
Obsession then turned into a genuine phenomenon. Made for very little money, it earned more than $500 million worldwide, the kind of return that turns a filmmaker into one of the most in-demand names in Hollywood almost overnight.
It also joins a growing list of horror filmmakers who came up through the internet. Directors who learned their craft making short videos online have increasingly made the jump to theatrical hits, and Barker is now one of the most successful examples.
What We Know About Mama Bear
Mama Bear stars Jon Lee Richardson, Katie Sarife, Ericka Kreuz and Joshua Snyder. The plot is still being kept under wraps, which only adds to the fun for horror fans who know Barker likes to surprise his audience.
A Busy Slate
Barker is keeping very busy beyond this short. He has Anything but Ghosts on the way for Blumhouse and Focus Features, and he’s also set to direct a new Texas Chain Saw Massacre film for A24, a big vote of confidence from one of the most respected names in horror.
Giving Back to the Fans
For a filmmaker who started out making videos for the internet, releasing a free short there after a half-billion-dollar hit is a nice nod to the fans who were there first.
It’s also a reminder that, for all his success, Barker hasn’t lost the scrappy, do-it-yourself spirit that got him noticed in the first place.