Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and subsequent acquisition by Focus Features, Obsession had to cut down one of its most shocking scenes in order to avoid a dreaded NC-17 rating.
“There was about six or seven more smashes,” writer-director Curry Barker told the SXSW audience (via Deadline) over the weekend. “And we were getting an NC-17 rating. And so they were like, ‘You’ve got to take out some of the smashes.’ And I was like, ‘I’m not taking out a single bash.’ But I did.”
The film is still “really fucking hardcore,” according to Barker. “I’d watch from the back of the theater and the way everyone reacted — whatever the number is now, it’s the right number.”
See for yourself when Obsession opens in theaters May 15, or catch it early at Boston Underground, Beyond Fest Chicago, or Overlook Film Festival.
In the movie, after breaking the mysterious One Wish Willow to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
Michael Johnston (“Teen Wolf”), Inde Navarrette (“Superman & Lois”), Cooper Tomlinson (Milk & Serial), Megan Lawless (“The Girl from Plainville”), and Andy Richter (“Conan”) star.
James Harris of Teashop Productions, Haley Nicole Johnson of Under the Shell, Christian Mercuri of Capstone Pictures, and Roman Viaris produce.
Executive producers include Jason Blum of Blumhouse, Leonora Darby & Mark Lane of Teacup, and David Haring & Ruzanna Kegeyan of Capstone.
Meagan Navarro wrote in her review out of TIFF, “While Monkey’s Paw scenarios often yield predictable outcomes, and this outcome is practically telegraphed from the start, Barker manages to surprise with the journey itself. And it’s one insane journey paved with blood-soaked violence and no shortage of nightmare fuel.”
