At just 16 years old, Kane Parsons reshaped internet horror with his viral series of YouTube shorts centred on The Backrooms, a liminal space theory that became a Reddit and 4Chan phenomenon. Now, Parsons is 20, and the youngest person ever to direct a movie for A24.

Ahead of the upcoming release of Backrooms, we sat down with Parsons to discuss the evolution of the cultural phenomenon. We asked whether his own perception of The Backrooms has changed in the process of seeing it adapted for the big screen, and how his experience of growing up online has shaped his approach to filmmaking and consuming media.

We also touched on the fan culture that has surrounded his Backrooms series, and asked whether the Backrooms is even something that can be, or should ever be, fully ‘solved’.

The film stars Renate Reinsve, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mark Duplass, Lukita Maxwell, Finn Bennett and Avan Jogia

Synopsis:

BACKROOMS follows a psychologist who is forced to confront a terrifying, unexplained realm after one of her patients vanishes into a mysterious alternate dimension.

In 2023, a film adaptation was announced as a joint production between A24, Chernin Entertainment, Atomic Monster, and 21 Laps Entertainment, with Parsons directing, making it his feature-length directorial debut, and Roberto Patino writing. Parsons would become A24’s youngest feature director. The film is produced by James Wan, Shawn Levy, and Osgood Perkins. Chernin Entertainment financed the film for under $10 million.

Watch the full interview with Kane Parsons below:

Backrooms releases worldwide on May 29th.

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