Curry Barker gets into what inspired Nikki’s party scene in Obsession, and it is actually a famous DC villain who served as a template. In the world of horror where most directors rely on grotesque otherworldly entities, foreboding background score, and jumpscares to build tension and dread, Curry Barker takes a different route. He takes unpredictability and makes it the main feature of a horror scene.
However, Barker has recently shared that it was a DC villain’s particular type of unpredictability that was channeled in a very pivotal moment of the film.
Curry Barker pulls back the curtains on the DC villain
Opening up about the creative forces behind his viral hit Obsession during an appearance on Entertainment Weekly’s The Awardist podcast, filmmaker Curry Barker revealed an unexpected comic-book blueprint for one of the movie’s most nerve-wracking sequences. Specifically, Barker pointed to the unsettling dynamic between Jared Leto’s Joker and Ike Barinholtz’s Alpha Griggs in David Ayer’s 2016 film Suicide Squad as the direct inspiration for a deeply awkward house party confrontation.
“That was inspired by something I saw in Suicide Squad, actually. Not the James Gunn one. The one before,” revealed Barker.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Curry Barker, Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston at the screening of Obsession at the Hollywood Legion Theater on May 11, 2026 Copyright: xAdMediax xMediaPunchx
Barker explained on The Awardist podcast that he became fixated on a particular brand of psychological discomfort displayed by Joker – namely, the suffocating dread of an unstable figure silently invading someone’s personal space with erratic, unpredictable stillness. He translated this exact staging technique into the party sequence involving Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette.
By positioning her hovering closely and unresponsively behind Sarah, portrayed by Megan Lawless, Barker successfully engineered an atmosphere of sudden dread, creating immense tension regarding what her next move is going to be. With this, he prepares the audience to jump out of their seats at even the slightest movement made by Nikki.
Soon we will be able to see more from this master of horror, where he will also tap into humor to mix it up a little.
Curry Barker to bring a horror-comedy feature next
Curry Barker’s Anything But Ghosts – a supernatural horror-comedy about two fraudulent ghost-hunter con artists (played by Curry Barker and Cooper Tomlinson) whose fake setup encounters a real, dangerous dark entity – is scheduled for May 7 next year. Barker is actually pulling a triple duty in this one as the writer, director, and star. He is aided by Tomlinson with the script, and other stars include Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Violet McGraw.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11:Michael Johnston, Curry Barker, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter at the screening of Obsession at the Hollywood Legion Theater on May 11, 2026 Copyright: xAdMediax xMediaPunchx
There is also a third feature in development. Following the massive commercial and critical success of his breakthrough indie film Obsession, Barker signed a rich eight-figure deal to write, produce, and direct a third feature film for Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and Universal Film Group. Meanwhile, he also dropped a short film, Mama Bear, on his YouTube channel for Halloween, giving fans something while they wait for his next big theatrical feature.
Do you think Inde Navarrette was able to replicate what Jared Leto did in Suicide Squad? Do let us know.
