How A Classic Simpsons Episode Inspired One Of 2026’s Most Popular New Horrors

It turns out that filmmaker Curry Barker found inspiration from an unlikely source when he was putting together his hit horror movie Obsession.

A huge critical and commercial success, Obsession centres around two close friends whose lives are forever changed after one makes a wish for the other to love him “more than anyone else in the fucking world”.

When his wish comes true, things take a disastrous, and tragic, turn – with Curry getting the idea for his film from an iconic episode of The Simpsons.

Speaking to Triple J before Obsession’s release, the director explained that he had invited some friends over to watch an episode of the comedy It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, which he made a guest appearance in.

“Before the episode [aired] there was a Simpsons episode where [Bart] has a monkey paw, and he’s making wishes and stuff,” he recalled.

Of course, Simpsons fans will know already that he’s referring to the show’s second ever Halloween special, Treehouse Of Horror II, which includes a segment where the family travels to Morocco and buys a cursed monkey’s paw at a market, which grants their wishes with sinister consequences.

The Simpsons' brush with a monkey's paw was an unexpected inspiration for Obsession
The Simpsons’ brush with a monkey’s paw was an unexpected inspiration for Obsession

He continued: “I was just excited to see my Always Sunny episode, but it hit me right then and there on the couch that Obsession idea that I had would be perfect if it was a wish movie.

“And so I actually remember the moment, I remember being on the couch, and being like, ‘oh my god’ and writing. It down. And after that, I just kept developing and developing that idea.”

In a separate interview with Variety, he said that after watching the Treehouse Of Horror special, he got to “thinking that I’ve never seen a straight crazy horror” based on that concept.

“We’ve seen ‘be careful what you wish for’ tons of times,” he noted. “But we’ve never seen my version of it. I instantly started thinking about what I could do with that…”

For what it’s worth, the Simpsons episode in question is based on WW Jacobs’ short story The Monkey’s Paw.

After coming up with his concept, Curry had to come up with a way of conveying the wish on screen, ruling out using a monkey’s paw because, as he told IndieWire, the image was already “too recognisable”.

He then considered going with a “wishing well”, “shooting stars” and “a wishbone”, before deciding on creating his own device, the One Wish Willow.

Since its release last month, Obsession has become one of the year’s most popular new films, with an enviable critical score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 4.2 stars from fans on Letterboxd.

Obsession is in cinemas now.

Share Button

57 Iconic Met Gala Red Carpet Looks That Got The Whole World Talking

Every year, on the first Monday in May, the world’s most famous people gather under one roof, dressed in their finest, for the Met Gala.

This means that on the first Tuesday in May, those of us here in the UK spend our mornings scrolling through social media, judging the A-list guests’ red carpet looks (usually while still in our pyjamas).

Well, folks, that fateful day is almost upon us.

So, to prepare for this year’s event – co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams, with the dress code “costume art” (in honour of the Met’s upcoming exhibit Fashion Is Art) – we’ve rounded up some of the best, most glamorous or, indeed, most outrageous looks in Met Gala history.

Expect repeat appearances from Met Gala staples like Rihanna, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Kardashian, Madonna and Doja Cat (many of whom we’re expecting big things from at Monday’s gathering.

Happy scrolling…

Rihanna (2015 – China: Through The Looking Glass)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Doja Cat (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

via Associated Press

Blake Lively (2022 – In America: An Anthology Of Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Rihanna (2025 – Superfine: Tailoring Black Style)

via Associated Press

Jared Leto (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

Zendaya (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

via Associated Press

Kim Kardashian (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

via Associated Press

Naomi Campbell (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

Janelle Monáe (2025 – Superfine: Tailoring Black Style)

via Associated Press

Rihanna (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Madonna (2013 – Punk: Chaos To Couture)

via Associated Press

Chadwick Boseman (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

via Associated Press

Cher (1974 – Romantic And Glamorous Hollywood Design)

Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Lupita Nyong’o (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

Madonna (2025 – Superfine: Tailoring Black Style)

via Associated Press

Sarah Jessica Parker (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

via Associated Press

Zendaya (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Gigi Hadid (2022 – In America: An Anthology Of Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Rihanna (2017 – Comme Des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Kim Kardashian (2022 – In America: An Anthology Of Fashion)

via Associated Press

Beyoncé (2016 – Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology)

via Associated Press

Lana Del Rey (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Jennifer Lopez (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

via Associated Press

Zayn (2016 – Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology)

via Associated Press

Naomi Campbell (1995 – Haute Couture)

Ron Galella, Ltd. via Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Billie Eilish (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Billy Porter (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Zendaya (2025 – Superfine: Tailoring Black Style)

via Associated Press

Kim Kardashian (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

via Associated Press

Ariana Grande (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Bad Bunny (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

Jason Howard/GC Images

via Associated Press

Sarah Jessica Parker (2006 – AngloMania: Tradition And Transgression In British Fashion)

Fairchild Archive via Penske Media via Getty Images

Zendaya (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Céline Dion (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

Miley Cyrus (2013 – Punk: Chaos To Couture)

via Associated Press

Demi Moore (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

via Associated Press

Beyoncé (2015 – China: Through the Looking Glass)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Nicole Kidman (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

via Associated Press

Helen Lasichanh (2017 – Comme Des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between)

via Associated Press

Lil Nas X (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Hailey Bieber (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

Kim Kardashian (2013 – Punk: Chaos To Couture)

via Associated Press

Princess Diana (1996 – Christian Dior)

Patrick McMullan via Patrick McMullan via Getty Image

Cardi B (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Diana Ross (2025 – Superfine: Tailoring Black Style)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Jaden Smith (2017 – Comme Des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Jared Leto (2023 – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Janelle Monáe (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

Taylor Swift (2016 – Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology)

via Associated Press

Lil Nas X (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Madonna (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Tyla (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

via Associated Press

Timothée Chalamet (2021 – In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion)

via Associated Press

Jennifer Lopez (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Rihanna (2018 – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Doja Cat (2024 – Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion/The Garden Of Time)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Lady Gaga (2019 – Camp: Notes On Fashion)

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

via Associated Press

Share Button

Olivia Rodrigo Reveals Sex And The City Inspiration On New Album

It’s well-documented that the relationship between Gen Z and Sex And The City is a complicated one, but if anyone can serve as an ambassador between the two, it’s Olivia Rodrigo.

The three-time Grammy winner is currently gearing up for the release of her third album You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love.

On Thursday night, she made an appearance on The Tonight Show, where she revealed to host Jimmy Fallon that she found inspiration in unusual places on her next release.

She explained that her new material is more “about romantic love in more of a positive sense” after the “heartbroken and angsty” double whammy of Sour and Guts, teasing “love songs” mixed with “melancholy” and “injected with a little bit of sadness and longing”.

In particular, Olivia admitted that “multiple songs” on You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love were inspired by the complicated relationship between Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda and David Eigenberg’s Steve on the original run of Sex And The City.

Cynthia Nixon and David Eigenberg pictured on the set of Sex And The City in 2003
Cynthia Nixon and David Eigenberg pictured on the set of Sex And The City in 2003

Shutterstock

She beamed: “It’s my favourite show – I think I watched every single episode maybe three times.”

OK, we’re going to need a full breakdown of Olivia’s thoughts on Miranda and Che’s And Just Like That tryst ASAP…

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="7124" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","isLiveblogEmbed":false,"index":11,"contentIndexByType":1,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-Th83bH_thdKZDJCrn88g","cache_age":86400,"description":"Olivia Rodrigo talks about the journey of writing her new album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, announcing her upcoming Unraveled Tour and hosting and performing on Saturday Night Live.\n\nThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Stream now on Peacock: https://bit.ly/3gZJaNy\n\nSubscribe NOW to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: http://bit.ly/1nwT1aN\n \nWatch The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Weeknights 11:35ET/10:35c\n \nGet more The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: https://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show\n \nJIMMY FALLON ON SOCIAL\nFollow Jimmy: http://Twitter.com/JimmyFallon\nLike Jimmy: https://Facebook.com/JimmyFallon\nFollow Jimmy: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyfallon/\nFollow Jimmy on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jimmyfallon\nFollow Jimmy on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmyfallon\n\nTHE TONIGHT SHOW ON SOCIAL\nFollow The Tonight Show: http://Twitter.com/FallonTonight\nLike The Tonight Show: https://Facebook.com/FallonTonight\nFollow The Tonight Show: https://www.instagram.com/fallontonight/\nFollow The Tonight Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fallontonight\nThe Tonight Show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fallontonight\n \nThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon features hilarious highlights from the show, including comedy sketches, music parodies, celebrity interviews, ridiculous games, and, of course, Jimmy’s Thank You Notes and hashtags! You’ll also find behind the scenes videos and other great web exclusives.\n\nGET MORE NBC\nNBC YouTube: http://bit.ly/1dM1qBH\nLike NBC: http://Facebook.com/NBC\nFollow NBC: http://Twitter.com/NBC\nNBC Instagram: http://instagram.com/nbctv\n \nOlivia Rodrigo Reveals Sex and the City Inspired a Song on you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love\nhttp://www.youtube.com/fallontonight\n\n#FallonTonight \n#OliviaRodrigo\n#JimmyFallon","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F1s6HPdD7wU/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Olivia Rodrigo Reveals Sex and the City Inspired a Song on you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1s6HPdD7wU","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isMobile":false,"isAdsFree":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"69f456b0e4b02d8fdb5f0ed3","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/olivia-rodrigo-new-songs-sex-city_uk_69f456b0e4b02d8fdb5f0ed3","entryTagsList":"we-love-tv,nostalgia,sex-and-the-city,cynthia-nixon,olivia-rodrigo","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"isShopping":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"16b0ecc6-802c-4120-845f-e90629812c4d","clickToPlayPlayer":"823ac03a-0f7e-4bcb-8521-a5b091ae948d","videoPagePlayer":"05041ada-93f7-4e86-9208-e03a5b19311b","defaultPlaylist":"2e062669-71b4-41df-b17a-df6b1616bc8f"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"69f456b0e4b02d8fdb5f0ed3","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"we love tv","slug":"we-love-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/we-love-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"We Love TV","slug":"we-love-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv/"},{"name":"nostalgia","slug":"nostalgia","links":{"relativeLink":"news/nostalgia","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Nostalgia","slug":"nostalgia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia/"},{"name":"Sex and the City","slug":"sex-and-the-city","links":{"relativeLink":"news/sex-and-the-city","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sex-and-the-city","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sex-and-the-city"},"relegenceId":3072955,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sex-and-the-city/"},{"name":"Cynthia Nixon","slug":"cynthia-nixon","links":{"relativeLink":"news/cynthia-nixon","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/cynthia-nixon","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/cynthia-nixon"},"relegenceId":2785055,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/cynthia-nixon/"},{"name":"Olivia Rodrigo","slug":"olivia-rodrigo","links":{"relativeLink":"news/olivia-rodrigo","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/olivia-rodrigo","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/olivia-rodrigo"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/olivia-rodrigo/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"signInUrl":"https://login.huffpost.com/login?dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Folivia-rodrigo-new-songs-sex-city_uk_69f456b0e4b02d8fdb5f0ed3%3Fhp_auth_done%3D1","cetUnit":"buzz_body","enableIncontentPlayer":true,"bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0,"midArticleAdPartner":null},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

Last month, Olivia unveiled her new song Drop Dead as the lead single from her next album, which quickly shot to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, giving the Good 4 U singer her fourth UK number one in five years.

You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love will be released on 12 June, ahead of her newly-announced Unravelled world tour.

The Unravelled tour will kicks off across the pond in September, before she brings it to the UK with four performances at London’s O2 Arena scheduled for April 2027.

Share Button