Director Kane Parsons is transforming his viral internet-based "creepy videos" into a full-length horror feature titled Backrooms. In a recent Letterboxd interview, the 20-year-old director highlighted the 2002 psychological thriller One Hour Photo as a primary influence on the project's aesthetic and themes.

The symmetrical dread of Mark Romanek’s 2002 thriller

Parsons' Backrooms utilizes the unsettling visual language found in Mark Romanek’s One Hour Photo. According to the report, the director specifically referenced the cinematography and acoustic elements of the 2002 film when crafting his own project. both works rely on liminal environments—spaces that feel eerily empty or transitional—to serve as metaphors for the characters' internal psychological states.

The source notes that the monotony and familiarity of the setting in One Hour Photo keeps the world off-balance, a technique that finds a modern echo in the uncanny, distorted landscapes of Backrooms. This use of space creates a sense of displacement that is central to the horror experience in both films.

Updating 2000s alienation for the social media age

The connection between the two films extends beyond mere visuals into shared psychological territory. While One Hour Photo explored the loneliness and obsession born from early-2000s social alienation, Backrooms seeks to translate these themes for a modern audience. The source suggests that Backrooms functions as a 2020s evolution of these ideas, using the distorted environments of the internet era to reflect contemporary anxieties.

By incorporating the stark, bright, and symmetrical visuals characteristic of the 2002 thriller, Parsons is attempting to capture the precariousness of the modern collective mental state through a digital lens. This thematic bridge allows the film to connect classic psychological horror with the specific anxieties of the current decade.

Will the film's sci-fi elements satisfy the original fans?

As Parsons moves from short-form internet clips to a structured narrative, several questions regarding the film's direction remain. The report mentions that the director is incorporating science fiction elements to expand upon the original "creepy videos" that initially went viral. However, it is still unverified how these new narrative layers will interact with the pure, uncanny atmosphere that fans originally fell in love with .

Furthermore, the source does not clarify how the film will balance the bright, symmetrical aesthetic of its inspiration with the dark, mysterious secrets that the Backrooms narrative is expected to conceal. Whether the addition of science fiction will enhance the tension or distract from the liminal horror remains to be seen.

Kane Parsons' rapid ascent from viral clips to feature film

At just 20 years old, Kane Parsons has achieved a level of industry recognition that is rare for such a young filmmaker. His initial digital content attracted millions of viewers , providing a massive foundation for his transition into feature-length horror. This move from short-form social media clips to a formal cinematic release marks a significant milestone in his career.

By drawing on cult classics and moving beyond the limitations of viral internet content, Parsons is positioning himself as a fresh, disruptive voice in the horror genre—a feat that is seldom achieved by creators in their early twenties. His ability to translate digital-native phenomena into structured cinema could set a precedent for future internet-born filmmakers.