The 2011 horror film 'Milk & Serial,' the directorial debut of Curry Barker, the filmmaker behind the recent success 'Obsession,' is now available to stream for free on YouTube. Barker, along with collaborator Cooper Tomlinson, produced the 62-minute film on an extremely low budget, reportedly around $800.
'Milk & Serial' centers on Marshall, nicknamed "Milk," and his roommate Steven, nicknamed "Seven," who run a YouTube channel called Prank Bros. The film opens with Steven pranking Milk on his birthday, but the narrative soon delves into darker territory as Milk's own elaborate prank reveals disturbing depths. The movie explores the blurred line between viral stunts and potentially dangerous outcomes.
Barker has drawn parallels between comedy and horror, stating that both genres require an understanding of the human condition and character psychology. Despite 'Milk & Serial's' inclusion on Variety's list of best horror movies of 2024, Barker has described it as a "hobby project" that he never expected to gain such recognition. He noted the significant time gap between completing the film and its eventual online release.
While 'Milk & Serial' employs a found-footage style, its execution has been described as more akin to a YouTube video than a traditional feature film. The movie incorporates handheld camerawork, direct audience addresses, and a YouTube-friendly editing style, complete with a musical score and multiple points of view. These stylistic choices have been noted as potentially undermining the found-footage conceit.
The film has been criticized for its pacing, with some suggesting it drags despite Barker's efforts to shorten it for its online release. The acting, attributed to the filmmakers themselves, has been described as amateurish, and the visual composition as dull and under-lit. Unlike Barker's later film 'Obsession,' 'Milk & Serial' reportedly lacks the tension and engaging performances that characterized his more recent work.
Despite its flaws, 'Milk & Serial' offers a glimpse into Barker's early directorial efforts. Its free availability on YouTube makes it an accessible watch for fans of 'Obsession' looking to see the filmmaker's progression. Barker himself seems uncertain about whether to officially count 'Milk & Serial' as his directorial debut, given its short runtime and direct-to-YouTube release, which bear resemblances to many online shorts.