There’s a new horror project quietly building buzz in Hollywood, and it’s bringing an interesting mix of talent together. Bryce Dallas Howard is stepping into a mysterious new space with Anything But Ghosts, a film that has just wrapped production but is already getting attention for the names involved. What makes this one stand out is not just the casting, but the creative team backing it — and honestly, that’s where things start to get more interesting than expected.
The film is being directed by Curry Barker, who also co-wrote the script alongside his frequent collaborator Cooper Tomlinson. While plot details are still tightly under wraps, the project carries that familiar “mystery horror” tag that usually hints at something atmospheric rather than loud and predictable. Tomlinson is also starring in the film, sharing screen space with Aaron Paul, with Barker himself appearing in the cast too. It’s clearly a tight-knit creative circle, and that kind of collaboration often leads to something a little more personal on screen.
For Bryce Dallas Howard, this project adds another layer to a career that’s already moved across genres quite comfortably. Most audiences still associate her strongly with the Jurassic World franchise, where she played a central role across the trilogy. But if you look closer, her filmography has always been a mix — from musical drama in Rocketman to the unsettling tone of The Village, and even ensemble storytelling in The Help. This shift into a horror-led narrative doesn’t feel random; it actually fits into that pattern of experimenting with tone and genre.
And then there’s her work behind the camera, which often gets less mainstream attention but has been equally solid. Howard has directed episodes for major Disney+ shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. That experience with storytelling from a director’s perspective could quietly influence how she approaches roles like this — especially in a genre like horror, where timing and atmosphere matter as much as performance.
What’s really pushing Anything But Ghosts into conversation, though, is the production backing. The film marks the first collaboration between Jason Blum and Roy Lee — two names that have shaped modern horror in very different ways. Blum, through Blumhouse, is known for turning relatively small-budget ideas into major hits, while Lee has been behind several global horror successes. Together, their involvement signals that this isn’t just another indie experiment — it’s a calculated bet on new talent.
That “new talent” in question is Curry Barker, who has been gaining attention at a surprisingly fast pace. His recent film Obsession became one of the most talked-about titles at the Toronto Film Festival, even landing one of the biggest sales there. Before that, he built a reputation in a completely different space — sketch comedy and digital content — with projects like his YouTube horror feature Milk & Serial. That journey from internet creator to studio-backed filmmaker is part of what makes this project feel unpredictable in a good way.
There’s also more happening around Barker beyond this film. He’s already been tapped to reimagine The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for A24, which says a lot about how much confidence the industry is placing in him right now. When a director is juggling multiple high-profile projects this early in their career, it usually means studios are seeing something fresh in their storytelling approach.
At this point, Anything But Ghosts is still holding its secrets close, and maybe that’s the smartest move. Horror works best when you don’t know exactly what you’re walking into. But with a cast that blends experience and new energy, and producers who know exactly how to market fear to audiences, the film already feels like one to keep an eye on. It’s not screaming for attention yet — but the pieces are clearly falling into place for something that could surprise people when it finally arrives.
