Hollywood finds itself in a very interesting place right now. For decades, it has operated as an exclusionary industry made for and controlled by the big dogs. If you did not have millions of dollars in studio backing and a well-connected producer, you could not release a film that would stand any chance at reaching the masses. But things are changing.

 

Independent creators are now using niche digital platforms to hone their skills and utilizing alternative distribution models to bring their work to the masses. In this article, we will focus on how the blockbuster film Obsession embodies this new trend and how such films are breaking Hollywood's monopoly over the film industry.

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The Movie

Obsession is a film created, edited, and directed by Curry Baker. It was produced for on a very lean $750,000 budget and went on to gross over $500,000,000 globally. It first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival where it was met with much acclaim. This success led to a studio bidding war which was won by Focus films and the rights to the film were purchased for $15,000,000.

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The movie centers around Baron "Bear" Bailey, a lonely music store employee who struggles from social isolation and is desperate for attention. He has an intense and unrelenting crush on his friend and co-worker Nikki who he lacks the confidence to express his feelings to.

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While visiting a local crystal shop, Bear comes across a mysterious trinket known as "The One Wish Willow" which promises to grant the user a single, absolute wish. He ends up purchasing the trinket, takes it home and makes his wish. he wishes that his crush, Nikki, would "Love him more than anyone in the world".

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Much to his surprise, the wish works and overnight, him and Nikki fall into an intoxicating whirlwind romance. Things however take a turn for the worse when Nikki's affection turns into an erratic and unsettling obsession.

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As her behavior grows increasingly aggressive and disturbing, mutual friends begin to notice the rapid escalation and try to intervene. This forces Bear to confront the terrifying reality of what his wish has actually unleashed.

 

The story follows Bear as he desperately tries to navigate the suffocating consequences of his magical shortcut, leading to a mounting sense of dread and escalating tension as the situation spirals completely out of his control.​

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A Little About The Director

The success of Obsession can be attributed to it's interesting and eccentric storyline, as well a sit's relatability to younger and modern audiences. However, this fascinating story did not come from one of Hollywood's known directors. It instead came from a director who honed his skills as a Youtuber.

 

Before taking the helm as the creator and director of Obsession, Curry Baker was co-creator of the successful YouTube channel "That's A Bad Idea" alongside fellow comedian Cooper Tomlison. The channel currently has 6.7 million subscribers and served as a creative playground for Baker. It is known for its sketch and cringe comedy, as well as other related short form content. The channel is also known for its web series, such as Privately Investigated, and other mini thrillers.

 

The Micro budget feature "Milk And Serial" was the breakout short film that launched the channel into the realm of Virality and helped launch Baker into mainstream directing. Made with a budget of only $800, this psychologic thriller/horror film provided Baker with acclaim not from critics, but from fans.

 

Curry Baker was able to use an independent platform like YouTube as a tool to refine his craft and then propel himself into mainstream success. Rather than going the route of the traditional studio pipeline, he paved his own path outside of the Hollywood construct. The success of Obsession marks a noticeable shift in the way the movie industry operates not just now, but for the foreseeable future.

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​​The New Power Dynamic

Obsession marks a permanent shift. It proves that the gatekeepers are losing their grip because the tools of production and audience-building are now in the hands of independent creators. You no longer need permission from a studio executive to build a world that millions of people will pay to inhabit.

 

For any independent creator watching from the outside, the lesson of Obsession is clear: stop waiting for Hollywood to hand you a key. Build your audience, master your craft independently, and let the culture come to you.