A new horror film is bringing the unsettling world of internet horror to a wider audience. The project, backed by major producers and helmed by a young director, draws heavily from the 'Backrooms' phenomenon and the broader creepypasta universe.

The Backrooms Film: A Rising Star at A24

Directed by Kane Parsons, a 20-year-old VFX animator, the film marks a significant milestone as Parsons becomes the youngest filmmaker in A24 history. The story centers on a furniture store owner who discovers a hidden doorway in his building’s basement.

This door leads to an infinite, fluorescent-lit labyrinth existing outside of reality. Renate Reinsve co-stars as the owner’s therapist, who is later drawn into the same dimension. The screenplay, by Will Soodik, expands upon Parsons’ own popular YouTube series.

From YouTube Series to Feature Film

Parsons’ YouTube series has amassed over 190 million views since its launch in 2022. The film also boasts producers James Wan and Shawn Levy, demonstrating significant industry confidence in the project.

The Origins of Internet Horror

The film’s source material originated from a simple photograph of a large, yellow-carpeted room. This image sparked online discussions about the feeling of being trapped, evolving into a recognizable piece of internet horror mythology.

Parsons’ series transformed the concept into a sprawling found-footage universe, further solidified by a dedicated video game. The trailer emphasizes liminal dread and unsettling architecture, avoiding typical jump scares.

Past Attempts at Adapting Creepypasta

While the film’s trailer is promising, audiences familiar with the genre are cautiously optimistic. Creepypasta properties have often struggled to maintain their impact when adapted into traditional narratives, though exceptions exist.

The Slender Man ARG and its Impact

The YouTube ARG series created by Troy Wagner, Joseph DeLage, and Tim Sutton, launched in June 2009, established the visual and narrative style that Parsons’ work borrows from. The series, featuring Jay Merrick (Wagner) investigating his friend’s disappearance after an encounter with “The Operator,” ran for 92 episodes and garnered over 125 million views.

Its success stemmed from its commitment to the found-footage approach, utilizing corrupted video and incomplete information to build paranoia. This series was also pivotal in establishing the Slender Man symbol.

Real-World Consequences and the Slender Man Stabbing

The power of creepypasta was tragically demonstrated in May 2014, when two 12-year-old girls in Waukesha, Wisconsin, stabbed a classmate 19 times, claiming they were acting to appease Slenderman. The character originated from a 2009 Photoshop competition on the Something Awful forums.

A documentary on the case, shot over 18 months, explores adolescent mental illness and the blurring lines between fiction and reality, avoiding sensationalism to provide a valuable insight into creepypasta’s psychological impact.

Channel Zero: A Successful Adaptation

Channel Zero, created by Nick Antosca and aired on SyFy from 2016 to 2018, is considered the most successful attempt to translate creepypasta into serialized television. Each season adapted a different internet horror story, focusing on emotional resonance and atmospheric dread rather than literal adaptation.