The world of cinema is about to get a whole lot creepier, and it's all thanks to the visionary mind of Kane Parsons. This 20-year-old filmmaker is taking us on a journey into the depths of 'Backrooms', a project that began as a YouTube series and is now set to become a chilling feature film under the A24 banner.
'Backrooms' is more than just a horror story; it's a reflection of our collective fears and anxieties. Parsons, who started his YouTube journey at a young age, believes that the series resonates with audiences because it taps into a deep-seated anxiety about the systems that have dominated our world for centuries.
The Backrooms Phenomenon
At its core, 'Backrooms' explores an infinite maze of rooms, illuminated by humming fluorescent lights and adorned with a distinctive yellow wallpaper. It's a concept that originated from urban legends and web posts, but Parsons has transformed it into a captivating narrative. In the A24 film, we follow a therapist, played by Renate Reinsve, as she embarks on a quest to find a missing patient in this bizarre dimension.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the film's focus on character development. Parsons explained that the movie delves into the lives of these individuals, showcasing their loneliness and isolation. "It's a pretty lonely film," he said, emphasizing the absence of multiple characters on screen at any given time.
Crafting the World of Backrooms
Parsons' journey into the world of 'Backrooms' began with teaching himself to use Blender, a free, open-source 3D graphics software. This skill allowed him to create the eerie environments of his YouTube videos, which he later brought to life on a massive scale for the feature film.
The production team, including cinematographer Jeremy Cox, went to great lengths to ensure continuity with the web series. Parsons described the process of building the sets in real time, modeling them in Blender, and conducting extensive tests to capture the right tone. "We did 50 wallpaper tests to get the right shape of yellow," he revealed, highlighting the attention to detail.
The result was a staggering 30,000 square feet of actual 'backrooms' that the crew built. It was so realistic that some people even got lost within the set, creating an uncanny sensation of being truly immersed in this eerie world.
The Psychology Behind Backrooms
For Parsons, 'Backrooms' is not just about creating a scary setting; it's an exploration of the human mind's ability to perceive and understand spaces. He explained that the concept preys on our brain's mapping abilities, where the confusion arises from the endless repetition of rooms, not from constant change.
"The hard part is accepting that you can't map it out," Parsons said. "It's like sensory deprivation on an individual level. The body and nervous system crave stimulation, and in its absence, it starts to find patterns and noise in the walls, taking them more seriously than usual."
A Deeper Reflection
'Backrooms' can be seen as a metaphor for the modern world and its systems. Parsons believes it reflects our collective anxiety about the economic, industrial, and societal structures that have shaped our lives for centuries. It's a commentary on the loneliness and isolation that can arise from living in such a system.
In my opinion, 'Backrooms' is a powerful reminder of the importance of human connection and the potential dangers of sensory deprivation. It's a film that will leave audiences questioning their own perceptions and the nature of reality.
As we eagerly await the release of 'Backrooms' in theaters on May 29, I can't help but feel excited about the unique and thought-provoking experience it promises to deliver.
