Simpsons legends Al Jean and Mike Reiss weigh in on Obsession being inspired by one of their episodes
The horror film Obsession has joined The Simpsons’ legacy of pop culture influence alongside “cromulent” and “Do the Bartman.” Director Curry Barker revealed in a recent Variety interview that he conceived Obsession as a “wish movie” after watching the “Treehouse of Horror II” episode, which features a segment where Homer Simpson acquires a cursed monkey’s paw that grants wishes with dire consequences.
The revelation sparked mixed reactions online. Some critics expressed concern that contemporary creators rely too heavily on Simpsons parodies for cultural references. Others countered that Barker was likely already familiar with the original monkey’s paw tale—a classic story with deep literary and folkloric roots—and may have drawn additional creative inspiration from the show’s renowned adaptation.
Commentators have emphasized that the source of Barker’s creative inspiration matters less than the quality of the final product, with Obsession receiving recognition as a successful horror film.