Obsession was made for about $750,000. Now it’s in the Oscar conversation.
Curry Barker’s Focus Features horror hit, starring Michael Johnston and Cooper Tomlinson, is top of mind for many this awards season. Johnston and Tomlinson spoke with BLKCinema.com exclusively about what the film has opened up for them and what they notice on a rewatch.
Michael Johnston on life after ‘Obsession’
Johnston said the film hasn’t changed the kinds of roles he wants as much as it has widened his options.
“I love to play characters that subvert the audience’s expectation or just dive into the human, flawed psyche. That really interests me,” Johnston said. “I would say that it hasn’t changed the roles that I’m interested in as much as it has expanded the opportunities that have come my way.”
“I’m always thinking about, what do I wanna do next? It’s a really important question for me, and I have a great team that’s helping me to choose those next projects. I love horror. It is my favorite genre as a consumer, but I wanna do all kinds of things,” he continued. “I just feel really excited for the future and really grateful.”
He said he knew he wanted the role from the moment he read it.
“I read the script and I had so many questions, and it made me feel like a kid. It made me feel so excited, and I had to be a part of it,” Johnston said. “That month that went by before I actually got the role was just agonizing, because I wanted it so bad.”
What Michael Johnston sees in ‘Obsession’ on a rewatch
Johnston said watching the finished film shifted his perspective beyond Bear’s.
“When I’m acting, I’m really focused on Bear’s perspective and how he sees the world. And then when I’m watching the film, and even after each watch, I start to open up and see things from the other characters’ perspectives,” Johnston said. “I made some choices in the moment when I was acting that just felt like the right thing to do, like the truth. Within this set of circumstances, this is what the character would do if he really wants this thing more than anything. But it wasn’t until watching it that I realized, wow, I didn’t even realize why this worked so well here.”
“It’s a reminder that as a performer, the more you do the homework of the character, and then in the moment you just let go and be present, you’ll find more honest performances that resonate with other people,” he continued. “There’s different reasons why people love the film, and people have really different opinions of the characters, which is really interesting.”
Cooper Tomlinson on Bear, Ian and the secrets they keep
Tomlinson, who plays Ian, said talking about the film has made him tougher on both Bear and his own character.
“Definitely, I view Bear in a harsher light, and Ian. None of these guys are honest with each other, and they keep secrets, and that’s how this all happens,” Tomlinson said. “Ian could have done a way better job in just telling the truth and being honest. And then Bear being honest with himself and to Nikki when she asks, do you like me? Who knows where this whole story could go.”
He said he planted hints about Ian from the start.
“Ian always knew what he was keeping secret from Bear. In that opening scene, there’s some subtle hints in the dialogue and the looks. If you go back and rewatch, you’ll see,” Tomlinson said. “In the party scene, and any scene that Ian’s with Nikki, there’s just these little subtleties throughout there for people to catch on a rewatch.”
Cooper Tomlinson on working with Curry Barker and making movies on a budget
Tomlinson, Barker’s longtime collaborator, said Obsession was unlike anything they had made together.
“It was such a fun time, but it was hard. We’ve never done anything like this. You’ve got to give 110%, and you’ve gotta have a good crew behind you too, who understand the vision,” Tomlinson said. “Movies are tough, and this was tough, but it was so fun, and I hope we get to keep making them with friends.”
His advice for other creatives is simple.
“You can do it. You have everything in your hands. Go make what you love, go make what you wanna make. You don’t need that much,” Tomlinson said. “Obviously, $750,000 is still a lot of money, but a thing like Milk & Serial, which is a movie that Curry and I made for $800, we just did that, and people liked it. So just get out there and make it.”
Featured image photo credit: Photo: Stewart Cook
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