tech
Backrooms is at the forefront of horror's YouTube wave
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TL;DR
- YouTube has become a major launching pad for emerging horror directors, with their independently created projects gaining traction online before moving to larger productions.
- Kane Parsons' film *Backrooms* was directed after his online fame from YouTube videos inspired by 4chan memes caught the attention of A24.
- Filmmakers like Parsons face the challenge of adapting their online work to appeal to a broader audience unfamiliar with their extensive online lore.
- Studios are investing in these projects due to the profitability of low-budget horror films and the advantage of filmmakers having established online fan bases.
- Prior successful YouTube-originated horror films include *Talk to Me* by Danny and Michael Philippou, and *Iron Lung* by Markiplier.
- While YouTube is valuable for discovery, creators like Parsons acknowledge the challenges of the platform's algorithm and the potential for unhealthy feedback loops with intense fandom.