A24 is known for making great movies in many different genres, but they’re especially praised for their horror films. Their next big project, a creepy sci-fi horror movie called Backrooms, just released its first trailer and is scheduled to come out in May 2026.
The Backrooms started as a spooky story shared online on 4chan. It describes a strange, endless place of empty rooms that isn’t part of our world. The idea has grown since then, with people adding different levels and even monsters to the Backrooms, and you can only get there by somehow leaving our reality.
What really gets under your skin about the Backrooms creepypasta is how endless and isolating it feels, and to truly capture that, you need a really specific idea of what it’s like. That’s exactly what A24 did – they looked to where the story started: the internet. The movie is directed by Kane Parsons, a 20-year-old filmmaker, and he’s part of a growing group of really talented horror directors who all seem to have a similar way of seeing things.
Backrooms’ Up-And-Coming Director Started On YouTube
Kane Parsons, who goes by Kane Pixels on YouTube, recently made his first feature film, Backrooms. He first gained attention with his 2022 viral short film, The Backrooms (Found Footage), which led to a series of related shorts all exploring the same concept.
A popular online series created by Parsons caught the attention of A24, leading them to hire him to direct a full-length movie. At just 17 years old, he became A24’s youngest-ever director. This new project, Backrooms, will be a big leap for Parsons, who previously taught himself animation and visual effects. He’ll now be directing established actors, including Academy Award nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor (known for 12 Years a Slave) and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value).
Lee Parsons is the newest director to gain attention after first building a following on YouTube, continuing a trend seen with many successful horror filmmakers. Before revitalizing franchises like Evil Dead and Alien, Fede Álvarez started as a viral video creator, as did the Philippou brothers, the directors behind the intense and emotional films Talk to Me and Bring Her Back.
Horror Audiences Are Being Rewarded By First-Time Directors Like Kane Parsons
Because horror movies are generally inexpensive to make, it’s easier for new filmmakers to get started. This has been great for horror fans, who are constantly seeing fresh perspectives and creative ideas.
Last month, legendary horror director Sam Raimi faced competition at the box office from Markiplier’s independently made horror film, Iron Lung. Soon, on October 13th, filmmaker Ian Tuason will release his debut feature, Undertone. Other online creators are also breaking into horror: Kane Parsons and Curry Barker are generating buzz with their upcoming film, Obsession, and Adrian Chiarella will direct the Australian horror movie Leviticus in 2026, following a successful showing at Sundance.
As a huge horror fan, I’ve noticed something amazing lately: some of the most exciting and genuinely scary movies are coming from first-time directors with totally original ideas. I really think that’s a big reason why horror is having such a fantastic moment in Hollywood right now. It means we’re constantly getting fresh, inventive scares, and audiences are loving it. Films like Undertone and Backrooms are perfect examples – the buzz around them is huge because they offer something genuinely new.
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2026-02-28 06:28