Kane Parsons was just 17 when he was hired by A24 to helm a feature-length version of his YouTube short “The Backrooms.” Here now is our first teaser trailer for Parsons’ “Backrooms.” Roberto Patino (“DMZ”) wrote the screenplay.
What a win for kids making home movies on YouTube. Of course, you’ll have some saying that a teenager really shouldn’t be at the helm of a multi-million-dollar picture, responsible for hundreds of crew members. My best guess is that, at a minimum, Parsons had a few producers glued to his side at all times during production.
Although specific plot points remain under wraps, the original YouTube series employed a found-footage style to explore eerie spaces that feel like they exist just beyond the boundaries of reality. Parsons became a viral sensation thanks to “The Backrooms,” the first in a series of found-footage horror shorts that have collectively racked up nearly 200M+ views. You can check out his YouTube channel here.
The ‘Backrooms’ cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, and Avan Jogia. Meanwhile, Shawn Levy and James Wan are among the many producers. The film is set to hit theaters on May 29, 2026.