Kane Parsons was just 16 when he created a viral horror video called “The Backrooms” using Blender, a free animation program anyone can download. His creepy footage of endless yellow office rooms has now become a full movie with a massive 30,000-square-foot physical set.
The Backrooms started as an internet legend about people accidentally “clipping” out of reality into endless maze-like office spaces. Parsons brought this nightmare to life so convincingly that millions of viewers thought it was real footage.
From Bedroom to Hollywood
Parsons taught himself Blender by watching YouTube tutorials. His original 9-minute video looked so professional that A24, the studio behind hits like “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” signed him to make a feature film. The teenager had to learn how to direct real actors and build physical sets after working alone on his computer.
“People were getting lost” on the massive set, Parsons revealed. The production team had to create maps and use walkie-talkies to navigate the intentionally confusing layout. What started as digital rooms on his laptop became a real maze that confused even the crew building it.
Parsons combined his digital skills with practical effects, using Blender to plan scenes before building them in real life. This hybrid approach let him create something that feels both impossible and uncomfortably real.
What’s Next
The Backrooms movie shows how free software and internet creativity can launch careers. Parsons proves you don’t need expensive equipment to create Hollywood-quality content – just imagination and patience to learn.
