A Teen Director, a Viral Horror, and A24's Boldest Bet Yet
What happens when a 19-year-old YouTuber is handed the reins to a major studio horror film? A24 is about to find out. The indie powerhouse behind hits like Hereditary and Everything Everywhere All At Once has greenlit The Backrooms, a sci-fi horror film based on the viral internet mythos-and they've tapped Kane Parsons, a self-taught teenage filmmaker, to direct it.
This isn't just a quirky headline. It's a signal that the future of horror-and maybe cinema itself-is being shaped by creators who grew up online, not in film school. And it might just be the most exciting thing to happen to the genre in years.
From Creepypasta to Cinema
The Backrooms began as a single eerie image posted to 4chan in 2019: a yellow-lit, stained-carpeted office space that seemed to stretch forever. The caption warned, "If you're not careful and you noclip out of reality in the wrong areas, you'll end up in the Backrooms." That one post sparked a sprawling internet mythos, complete with fan-made games, stories, and videos.
Parsons, under the YouTube handle Kane Pixels, took the concept and ran with it. His short films, which blend analog horror with cutting-edge CGI, have racked up millions of views. They're unsettling, atmospheric, and deeply immersive-qualities that caught the attention of A24 and producers James Wan and Shawn Levy.
Now, Parsons is bringing his vision to the big screen, with production set to begin this summer. The cast includes Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor and Cannes breakout Renate Reinsve, adding serious weight to the project.
Why A24's Gamble Might Pay Off
Parsons is the youngest director A24 has ever hired. That alone is a headline. But it's not just about age-it's about perspective. He's part of a generation that grew up with YouTube, Unreal Engine, and AI tools at their fingertips. He doesn't just understand the internet's aesthetic-he lives it.
That's crucial for a story like The Backrooms, which thrives on the uncanny familiarity of digital spaces. The horror isn't in jump scares or gore. It's in the liminal, the mundane made terrifying. Parsons' shorts capture that perfectly, using lo-fi textures and spatial disorientation to evoke dread. It's horror for the TikTok age, and it works.
And A24 knows how to bet on vision. They've built their brand on giving auteurs room to experiment. With The Backrooms, they're not just betting on a young director-they're betting on a new kind of storytelling, one born from the internet's chaotic creativity.
The Tech Behind the Terror
Parsons' work is a masterclass in DIY filmmaking. He uses Blender, Unreal Engine, and AI-assisted tools to create environments that feel both real and unreal. For the feature film, he'll have access to a full production team and budget, but the core of his style-minimalist, uncanny, immersive-will remain.
Expect advanced CGI and AI-driven effects to play a major role. The film will likely lean into the surreal, dreamlike logic of the original mythos, where time and space bend and nothing feels quite right. It's a perfect match for the current wave of horror that prioritizes mood and atmosphere over traditional plot.
And while some fans worry that the film might lose the interactive dread of the original YouTube series, others are excited to see how Parsons adapts the open-ended lore into a cohesive narrative. If anyone can translate the internet's weirdest corners into cinema, it's him.
What This Means for Horror-and Hollywood
The Backrooms isn't just a movie. It's a case study in how internet culture is reshaping Hollywood. Studios are no longer just mining books and comics for IP-they're turning to YouTube, Reddit, and TikTok. And they're giving the creators behind those platforms a seat at the table.
It's a risky move. Parsons has never directed a feature-length film. But risk is where innovation lives. And if A24's track record is any indication, they're not afraid to take a chance on something strange, new, and potentially groundbreaking.
For horror fans, this is a moment to watch. The genre has always thrived on the fringes, where low budgets and big ideas collide. With The Backrooms, we're seeing the next evolution-where digital-native creators bring their nightmares to the silver screen.
Sometimes, the scariest thing isn't what's lurking in the shadows. It's the feeling that you've been here before, in a place that shouldn't exist, and can't be escaped.