Ashely currently works as a news writer for Polygon. After getting her Translation degree, she was hired as a guide and news writer for GameRant and TheGamer. She enjoyed working as an author for these sites for six years, and in 2026, she started at Polygon, where she is able to continue to do what she loves: writing about video games.
Just in time for Halloween
Obsession had an incredible box office run and quickly became the talk of the town. Director Curry Barker amassed thousands of fans all over the world within weeks. Barker is currently working on Anything but Ghosts, a comedy-horror flick set for release in 2027, but there’s something that fans can look forward to before then. The director is going back to his YouTube roots between big-screen productions with a new short film, Mama Bear.
It was on YouTube that Curry Barker first found his audience, before he became widely known for directing Obsession, a near-perfect indie horror masterpiece. The Alabama-born filmmaker took to YouTube to publish sketches he made alongside Cooper Tomlinson, commonly known for his role as Ian in Obsession. The two caught the attention of production companies as well as millions of viewers on the platform with low-budget short films such as The Chair and Milk & Serial.
Curry Barker releases new YouTube short film this Thursday
Anything but Ghosts, which has Seth Rogen’s stamp of approval, was anticipated as Barker’s next project, but a surprise announcement revealed that the director will first return to his roots with the release of Mama Bear, a short film made in partnership with Windows. Mama Bear is set to premiere on the “That’s a Bad Idea” YouTube channel on Oct. 29 at 11:30 a.m. EDT.
The short film will feature actors Katie Sarife (Anabelle Comes Home), Jon Lee Richardson, Ericka Kreuz, and Joshua Snyder. Casting details indicate that one character will have a doppelgänger, but ultimately, the movie’s themes remain a mystery. Curry Barker’s shorts usually focus on comedy, horror, or both. Considering this release is so close to Halloween, horror seems most likely.