By Fatma Younis
Director Curry Barker has revealed that his breakout horror film "Obsession" originally ended with both main characters dead, a darker conclusion than the version released in theaters.
Original 'Romeo and Juliet' ending
Speaking at a Q&A moderated by filmmaker Rian Johnson at MoMA's The Contender series in New York City, Barker, 27, said he initially wrote a "Romeo and Juliet" ending. In the final cut, Michael Johnston's character Bear fatally overdoses to break a cursed spell on Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, who wakes up traumatized. In Barker's original script, Nikki shoots and kills herself after Bear dies in her arms.
Financier requested alternate ending
Financier Capstone Pictures asked Barker to shoot a version where Nikki survives. He initially refused but eventually filmed the alternate ending to appease the studio. Barker said Navarrette's performance in that take was the best she had done and changed the tone of the film's conclusion.
Box office phenomenon
Made on a $750,000 budget, "Obsession" grossed more than $500 million worldwide this summer, setting multiple box-office records for an independent horror film. The success secured Barker a $10 million bid for his next project, though Blumhouse-Atomic Monster holds first refusal rights. Barker recently released a five-minute short film titled "Mama Bear" on YouTube ahead of Halloween.
