Over the weekend, we saw one of the youngest directors to hit the #1 spot at the domestic box office with 20-year-old Kane Parsons’ sensational, surreal, and creepy horror flick “Backrooms,” dethroning “The Mandalorian & Grogu” (Curry Barker’s “Obsession” also taking a chunk out of the second weekend box office cume of the “Star Wars” film by adding another $26.4 to their stack) with a whopping $81.4 million on a reported budget of only around $10 million.
Given the fevered audience and critical reception of “Backrooms,” the filmmaker is already alluding to being contracted to possibly make sequels, which isn’t terribly surprising given the studio box office metrics going on here, which likely is making A24 extremely happy as they’re aiming to jump into the world of IP (“Elden Ring” and “Death Stranding” movies on the way). Having a franchise starter under their belt is going to make the studio much more open to securing unique originals (which they’re already known for).
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Parsons spoke to Variety, where he was asked where he wants to go next. The director talked about not completely moving away from YouTube as a platform but said there is more to be explored in the “Backrooms” universe, alluding to potential sequels or other stories set in that world.
“I’ve got a bit of a good thing going right now that I want to utilize with the energy and positivity around this film. Without a doubt, ‘Backrooms’ has always been planned to be more of a series that goes outside the confines of this film. If anything, I would say this is a bit of a foot in the door that would lead to more of a progression towards the true root of the narrative, which has been set up online for years. But a version that maintains accessibility and lets this be the way in. For people who are into it, I’ve got a contract, and I got a hold at my end, and that means I am definitely not done with ‘Backrooms.’ I’ve got very specific things that I’m working on, things are in the works right now that I am eager to be able to talk about, but, currently, it’s still in a secret mystery world.”
We’ll just have to be patient to see what the new creative ultimately does with his Hollywood cache. With his first feature being a number-one hit, there are likely going to be endless offers tossed his way. Keeping our fingers crossed, Parsons shrugs off IP projects to focus on bankrolling his original ideas; then again, he seems to be indicating there is a contract in place with A24, without stating specifics.
The movie has so much heat on it, McDonald’s even did a parody ad for the fast food company, which was super bizarre, all things considered (although they seem to be taking page from viral memes for the purple colored Grimace Shake that tried to place the McDonald’s characters into a horror realm).
Feel free to read The Playlist’s recent interviews with Parsons, star Chiwetel Ejiofor, and, of course, the review for the pic itself.
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
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- Christopher Marc
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- Christopher Marc
