From YouTube Shorts to the Big Screen: Five Essential Backrooms Videos to Watch Now
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Following the release of the Backrooms feature film, a look at Polygon's curated list highlights five essential YouTube shorts by creator Kane Parsons that inspired the A24 adaptation.
For those who just caught Kane Parsons' feature adaptation of the internet horror phenomenon, diving into the creator's original YouTube channel offers a fascinating look at how a teenager built a viral sensation using Blender and sound design. As detailed by Polygon, the digital archive does not function like a traditional narrative. Instead, the shorts act as unanchored remnants from a corrupted hard drive, presenting moody, atmospheric fragments rather than neat answers.
If you want to understand the lore that convinced A24 to greenlight the film, starting with the original nine-minute viral upload is essential. That piece set the gold standard for point-of-view horror on the platform, racking up tens of millions of views by trapping an amateur filmmaker in endless yellow corridors. From there, shorts like Informational Video and Presentation expand the scope of the universe by introducing the bureaucratic, slightly unhinged Async Research Institute, which views a terrifying dimension as potential real estate.
While watching too many of these found-footage experiments back to back can feel a bit repetitive, piecing together the subtle recurring characters and overlapping timelines offers a uniquely interactive viewing experience. The shorts reward attentive watchers who enjoy connecting the dots across disparate uploads. Whether you are deep into internet creepypasta history or just looking to extend your horror movie marathon, this curated selection serves as the ultimate watchlist for the digital age.
Tags: Horror, YouTube, Film, Internet Culture
Original article: Polygon