Jeffrey Obrow on the dark side of social media and a life in horror

With his new film Pursued, director Jeffrey Obrow turns his sharp eye on one of modern life’s most dangerous obsessions: social media. Known for cult horror landmarks like The Dorm That Dripped Blood and The Kindred, Obrow brings decades of experience in fear and suspense to this chilling teen thriller starring Molly Ringwald, Paul Sorvino, Madison Lawlor, and Sam Trammell.

“Social media is fascinating to me because so much good can come out of it. However, there are so many dangers associated with the development of it all. It naturally leads to conflict.”

In Pursued, Obrow channels that conflict into a thriller designed to keep audiences on edge while forcing them to question the illusions of connection behind every screen.

Guiding icons and newcomers

Directing veteran stars alongside fresh faces, Obrow approached Pursued with balance and respect.

“Whenever you direct a well-known actor, there’s an inherent challenge. You want to give them the respect they deserve—but you also want them to fit naturally in the story.”

That duality—between legend and discovery—has long defined Obrow’s work. From collaborating with Oscar winners Rod Steiger and Kim Hunter in The Kindred to coaching young talent at USC, he thrives in the tension between experience and experimentation.

From student horror to pop culture legend

Obrow’s filmmaking roots trace back to UCLA, where his debut The Dorm That Dripped Blood became a midnight mainstay.

“We were students without a lot of experience. But everything was new to us. We were free to fail because we weren’t professionals.”

That scrappy student film would later be immortalized in Scream 2—a nod from the late Wes Craven that floored the director.

“Crazy that our student film was referenced in such a pop-culture hit franchise. Thank you, Wes Craven!”

Craft, tension, and teaching horror

Over his career, Obrow has adapted works by Dean Koontz and Bram Stoker and created original worlds of terror. His Servants of Twilight adaptation earned Variety’s praise for “breathless suspense.”

“I see the film in my head before I start shooting. If I’m not feeling the tension—I know I have to adjust.”

As a longtime professor at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Obrow spent two decades shaping new storytellers, emphasizing that story always comes first.

“The students are proficient at the technical aspects. The hardest part is getting the script right.”

Legacy of the genre

From The Power’s international recognition to Legend of the Mummy’s HBO debut, Obrow has defined indie horror’s thoughtful edge. Even Anne Rice nodded to The Kindred in The Witching Hour, and Leonard Maltin praised it as essential viewing for horror fans.

“The thrilling nature of it all keeps me coming back. The ideas just keep coming to me.”

Obrow’s body of work—from creature chills to psychological suspense—cements him as one of horror’s enduring architects, a filmmaker unafraid to explore the shadows we create for ourselves—on screen and online.