Kane Parsons, a prodigious talent in the film industry, began his journey into world-building at the tender age of 10. With a passion for sandbox games like Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet, he honed his skills in creating intricate realms. Fast forward a decade, and Parsons is now making waves in Hollywood with his debut feature film, Backrooms, which is set to hit cinemas soon.
The Concept Behind Backrooms
Backrooms tells the chilling tale of an architect-turned-furniture store owner who stumbles upon a hidden portal, leading him into a disorienting maze of rooms. His therapist, worried for his safety, ventures into this otherworldly space to rescue him. At just 20 years old, Parsons has garnered the support of the renowned indie studio A24, along with notable figures in the industry, including horror producer James Wan and director Osgood Perkins. The film features acclaimed actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve in lead roles, marking a significant milestone for the young director.
The inspiration for Backrooms originated from a simple image found on the internet in 2021. Parsons, known online as Kane Pixels, encountered a photograph depicting a drab office space with a caption warning of the eerie “Backrooms” – a seemingly infinite expanse of mundane yet unsettling rooms. This concept, rooted in internet folklore known as “creepypasta,” ignited Parsons’ imagination, leading him to create his own interpretation using 3D graphics software, Blender.
A Journey from Digital to Reality
What began as a personal project quickly transformed into a viral sensation on YouTube, with his first video amassing over 78 million views. Despite not initially perceiving the Backrooms as frightening, Parsons tapped into a collective fear that resonated with millions. He describes the Backrooms as a metaphorical purgatory, a space devoid of meaning where individuals can find themselves trapped without reason.
Hollywood soon took notice of Parsons’ burgeoning popularity, with various studios reaching out to him to adapt the Backrooms concept for the big screen. After careful consideration, Parsons signed a deal, allowing his vision to come to life. He meticulously mapped out the film’s setting, creating a physical representation of the 30,000 square meters of Backrooms across four sound stages.
Stepping onto the set for the first time was a surreal experience for Parsons, who had long envisioned this world in a digital format. He aimed to preserve the essence of his original web series while making it accessible to a broader audience. “I wanted to avoid the problems you can get with lore bloat,” he explains, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in storytelling.
Parsons’ background in Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet proved invaluable as he crafted a narrative that invites exploration while maintaining an air of mystery. With Backrooms, audiences are not just spectators; they are participants in a haunting journey through a labyrinthine reality that blurs the lines between the familiar and the uncanny.
Backrooms is set to be released in cinemas on May 28.
