20-year-old director's horror film "Backrooms" conquers cinema screens worldwide

20-year-old director's horror film "Backrooms" conquers cinema screens worldwide

Kane Parsons' debut film "Backrooms" has reached cinemas, created by just a 20-year-old YouTube creator. The film explores the concept of "liminal spaces" from internet legend — where ordinary corridors and rooms become terrifying.

Culture

The horror film "Backrooms" has reached cinemas worldwide, directed by 20-year-old YouTube creator Kane Parsons. The film is based on internet folklore and explores the phenomenon of so-called liminal spaces — a world of uncomfortable corridors and rooms where something terrifying could lurk around every corner.

Liminal spaces as a horror element

Liminal spaces have become a popular aesthetic concept online: empty shopping mall corridors, abandoned offices and old hotel halls that create an inexplicable sense of unease in the viewer. Parsons has adapted this idea for the big screen, turning ordinary furniture and architecture into the primary horror element.

Film critic Anton Dolin has drawn parallels to the work of David Lynch and Spike Jonze. Lynch used a mysterious black lodge in "Twin Peaks", while Jonze portrayed endless labyrinths of consciousness in "Being John Malkovich". Parsons continues the path begun by these masters — and does so with surprising confidence, according to critics.

Young creator, major surprise

The film has become an unexpected box office hit, which is particularly noteworthy given that the director is only 20 years old. Parsons began his career on YouTube, where he explored internet myths and legends, and has now successfully adapted these themes to the big screen format.

"Backrooms" demonstrates that young creators who grew up on the internet bring new ideas and aesthetics to cinema, giving familiar horror genre techniques fresh meaning.

Open in app →