‘Obsession’ Producer Haley Nicole Johnson on the Film’s Breakout Success

Producer Haley Nicole Johnson discussed the rapid success of the horror film ‘Obsession’ at a TIFF: The Market panel in Toronto. She said the film’s team had been met with a welcoming response from the industry.

Curry Barker’s ‘Obsession’ was sold to Focus Features for $15 million and later became a $500 million summer 2026 box-office hit. The source cites those figures alongside the performance of Kane Parsons’ ‘Backrooms’.

Johnson also said production had recently wrapped on Alex Ullom’s ‘4X4: The Event’ for Neon.

Producers discuss horror’s breakout market

Adam Hendricks, co-founder of Divide/Conquer, said horror can reach audiences deeply and can be made without a large cast. He also pointed to new market opportunities following the success of ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’.

Nyla Innuksuk of Mixtape VR said filmmakers need to refresh storylines and genre conventions to connect with audiences. Her new film ‘In the Heart of the South’ is having its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival this week; her debut feature was ‘Slash/Back’.

Searching for new genre mythology

Hendricks described horror as a difficult space because audiences resist familiar stories, including repeated zombie and werewolf narratives. He and Divide/Conquer co-founder Greg Gilreath are looking for scripts built around new mythologies and stories.

Gilreath said he is seeking filmmakers who use the full filmmaking toolkit, including effects and stunts rather than relying only on scripts and performances.