Obsession Meets M3GAN In Blumhouse's Creepy New Horror Spinoff

One of the most highly-anticipated new movies of 2026 is finally approaching, and it comes at the perfect time in modern horror history. In recent years, there has been a sharp pivot in the horror genre, causing filmmakers and viewers alike to reassess what it is that makes a scary story. For instance, Kane Parsons’ epoch-making Backrooms is already a defining title of 2026, but its employment of the uncanny valley effect may have been rejected a mere year ago.

Similarly, a radical acceptance of meme culture has made the more campy efforts— like 2022’s M3GAN— wildly successful in a landscape that has been notoriously difficult to navigate. In fact, genre-bending titles like the sci-fi thriller (and its divisive superhero sequel) have ironically ended up as some of the biggest horror movies of the decade. Consequently, the realm of horror itself is constantly expanding, be it “classic” horror with retro aesthetics and chilling plots, eco-horror with grotesque creatures and environmental calls-to-action, or supernatural horror with dread-inducing twists and thought-provoking allegories, like director Curry Barker’s sophomore showing: Obsession.

Whereas an Obsession sequel or anthology series is nothing more than an exciting hypothetical at present, however, other iconic horror movies have already established full-blown franchises. Case in point: M3GAN, which is set to soon release Soulm8te, the third film in its cinematic universe. As thrilling as the upcoming spinoff is, though, it is already a major departure from the franchise’s previous installments.

Soulm8te Asks What Obsession Would Look Like With Robots

Obsession has left big shoes to fill for any horror movie releasing in the second half of 2026, but Soulm8te will have an especially uphill battle considering the comparability of its plot. While the terror of Obsession lies in Bear’s wish and how the magic effectively possesses Nikki, Soulm8te will follow David (David Rysdahl), an engineer mourning his late wife who purchases an android companion named Sara (Lily Sullivan). After reprogramming the bot to be more human— and, in turn, more appealing— David must deal with the repercussions of giving a robot sentience and a single directive: to love him.

As such, Soulm8te will be able to ride the wave of Curry Barker’s blockbuster, but the most disturbing aspects of Obsession won’t be easily replicated. Luckily, there are already small divergences in Soulm8te‘s synopsis and teaser trailer that seem exceptionally promising. Despite existing in the same world, Soulm8te appears to be completely unrelated to M3GAN narratively speaking— which is, arguably, the wisest route the spinoff could have taken. Furthermore, the erotic sci-fi thriller will still capture the signature comedy of the franchise, but there will nonetheless be a fair amount of gore, action, and high-octane scares in store.

Soulm8te Is Part Of A Larger Horror Trend Right Now

Given its recency, it makes sense that horror fans are already drawing comparisons to Obsession, but Soulm8te is merely the latest example of the genre’s hottest trend: incel horror. Each year, visionary directors are ushering in the new generation of horror by creating terrifying plots that connect to pressing social issues. Granted, socially conscious horror is by no means a novel concept, but more and more titles are being released with a distinctly progressive lens.

The main reason so many viewers believe Bear to be the “true” villain of Obsession is because, despite his flippant impression of the One Wish Willow, he robbed Nikki of her agency and offered little-to-no sympathy for the mind-breaking spell she was trapped under. 2025’s Companion takes the concept a step further by taking away the female lead’s personhood itself; Iris, much like Soulm8te‘s Sara, is a robot who is subjugated at the hands of her self-proclaimed “nice guy” owner.

This haunting cross between relationship horror and techno-horror dates back decades, but it has irrefutably become more prevalent in the past decade, ranging from the critically panned Subservience (2024) to hidden gem masterpieces that harken back to Ex Machina‘s infamous blueprint. Whether Soulm8te will join the likes of Obsession and M3GAN as modern classics remains to be seen, but the horror genre is undeniably on an upswing thanks to its contemporaries.