The Simpsons Inspired the Rules Behind Obsession's One Wish Willows

Director Curry Barker has said the idea for Obsession’s One Wish Willows came while he was watching a rerun of The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror II” as he waited for an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The segment about Lisa’s nightmare, which features a monkey’s paw that grants wishes at a terrible cost, stayed with him as he developed his film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and reached cinemas in May 2026.

The monkey’s paw itself goes back to W. W. Jacobs’ 1902 short story, and The Simpsons adapts that premise into a more family-friendly gag. Barker took that familiar ‘‘be careful what you wish for’ idea and pushed it in a darker direction for Obsession, reshaping the concept to fit his characters and tone.

In Barker’s version, the One Wish Willows grant only a single wish each; people can buy multiples, but each willow delivers just once.

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