Curry Barker released Mama Bear, a five-minute horror short on Thursday, marking his return to YouTube filmmaking after the box-office success of his feature Obsession. Barker wrote, directed and edited the film for the That's a Bad Idea YouTube channel, which he co-runs with Cooper Tomlinson. Windows sponsored the project.
The short stars Jon Lee Richardson as Floyd, a man whose nap gets interrupted by disturbing phone calls that escalate into a nightmare. The cast also includes Katie Sarife as Lacey, Ericka Kreuz as Ms. Wilson and Joshua Snyder as Floyd's doppelgänger. The film ends with Lacey shooting and killing Floyd before revealing the existence of his double.
Barker reunited with members of his Obsession crew for the project, including production designer Vivian Gray and costume designer Blair James. James said the production moved quickly. "We shot this three and a half weeks ago; it was a really quick turnaround," she told The Hollywood Reporter.
Before Obsession became a hit, Barker built his reputation on YouTube shorts including Heavy Eyes, Enigma, Warnings, The Chair and Milk & Serial. His 2023 short The Chair caught the attention of producer James Harris of Tea Shop Productions, which helped launch Barker into feature filmmaking.
Obsession, released May 15, was made on a $750,000 budget and grossed more than $500 million worldwide. The film earned a nomination for the Gotham Audience Award. Barker's next feature, Anything But Ghosts, arrives May 7, 2027, from Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Spooky Pictures. He is also attached to write and direct a reimagining of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.