From Viral Videos to Feature Films: How Backrooms and Obsession are changing cinema

Viral horror films and creator-led productions are challenging Hollywood’s traditional model. Could Backrooms and Obsession be signalling the future of filmmaking?

The typical route for most filmmakers tends to include film school, luck and maybe some nepotism; however, Kane Parsons and Curry Barker would have you believe that YouTube is the place to find the next Spielberg or Scorsese. 

While May was a stacked month for movies with audiences having pick of the litter of massive blockbusters and hyped up sequels, the two most commercially and critically successful films came from a very different place.

First-time director Curry Baker first began on YouTube with a sketch comedy channel run by him and a friend. In an interview with the New Yorker he stated “It became our film school outside of film school,” and while it is hard to believe that filming short skits with a friend would prepare you to run a film set it is not only experience he gained from the channel by an online audience. 

His film Obsession follows a young man as a wish he made for a girl to love him goes horribly wrong. The film was praised by critics for its clever writing and genuinely frightening performances; however, its achievement at the box-office could not have been predicted. The film made over $290 million making it the cheapest film to top the box office in 17 years.

When speaking to Maureen Hascoet owner of Firewalker studios a Glasgow based production company on the changes the film industry is going through at the moment she stated: “The way that the film or the project is finding the audience is what is really changing massively, like rapidly.” With more saturation and franchise fatigue people are craving new stories but are still clutching their purses when it comes to buying the tickets; however, if someone whose art you already love online is behind the film it feels like less of a risk. 

“That audience translates from YouTube to the cinema.” Maureen said. While she herself admitted they were still ‘unicorns’ it does signal that audiences are interested. 

Backrooms released at the end of May and while many online complained of screens full of chatting teens on their phones the screens were full with the film grossing $38 million on opening day. Similar to Obsession, director Kane Parsons was a first-time director who built an audience on YouTube.

The concept of the Backrooms is not new online, it was already a viral sensation when Parsons put his spin on it. What first began as a creepypasta was expanded on as he built the Backrooms universe on his channel with over 20 videos in the series he cultivated the uneasy yet familiar environment of the world. His series on Youtube shares DNA with the film; the same magnolia walls and shaky cam used in the feature originated on his channel and the hype on the lead up to the A24 feature was palpable online. Audiences were curious how he would create a feature film from the abstract horror that existed on his channel.

“You don’t have to be a big Hollywood studio. You just have to go and create the content.” stated Valerie Andrews a Glasgow based actor and producer. “If you’ve got no opportunities, might as well create your own.”. She admitted getting projects funded and off the ground is difficult in the current climate, studios are risk adverse and don’t want to risk funds on unknown talent with no dependable IP. “I’ve done loads of castings where they’re like, ‘What’s your Instagram?’” While many studios do not want to admit that social media stars are valuable in the industry, the backing of a built-in audience can be significant when productions are struggling to get people in seats. 

Valerie went on to state: “I’m not surprised that these films are doing really well because these people were making the work outside the normal sort of path.” While people may be sick of superheroes or space wars there is a whole world of unexplored ideas and stories online waiting to be expanded on. Some have already seen success like Five Nights At Freddies or Zola which created a feature film from a very cinematic Twitter thread. 

When talking to young film students they feel excited about where the future is going Adelle Auld a film student from Glasgow stated: “I do feel inspired watching these new, up and coming directors succeed with their projects. Both, Backrooms and Obsession have done incredibly well in the box office despite having relatively low budgets, and newer,  unknown directors who do not have the fame or reputations of others.”

The success that Backrooms and Obsession has had is hard to ignore and future filmmakers see their stories as an inspiration and guide that even if you initially don’t have the backing and support from the industry creating a world and building your own audience can be enough to get your foot through the very heavy door that is the film industry.