Mark Duplass has publicly defended 20-year-old filmmaker Kane Parsons, who directed A24’s horror movie Backrooms, after social media users questioned whether Parsons had the final say on the set. Duplass stated that Kane was ‘100% in control,’ according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film, which stars Duplass alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell, opens in theaters on Friday.

Speculation About Young Director’s Role

Social media users have speculated that Kane Parsons, the youngest director in A24’s history, might not have been the sole creative force behind Backrooms. Some posts have suggested that more experienced producers such as James Wan, Shawn Levy, and Osgood Perkins may have taken a greater role behind the scenes. One X user wrote, ‘We all know Kane Parsons absolutely didn’t direct this movie,’ according to TheWrap.

Duplass quickly responded, stating, ‘Hmmm, with all due respect I don’t remember seeing you on set. When I was there, Kane was 100% in control. More so than many directors 3x his age,’ according to Variety.

Parsons’ Background and Preparation

Parsons gained attention for his YouTube series Backrooms, which he began uploading as a teenager in early 2022. The series explores an infinite maze of rooms in a strange, liminal space. The film adaptation, co-financed by A24 and Chernin Entertainment, builds on this concept with a more character-driven approach.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Parsons revealed during an interview at CCXP Mexico that the production team created 30,000 square feet of actual backrooms on set. He also noted that the film ‘takes more of a specific approach, where you’re seeing it through the lens of these specific characters — these individuals living these atomized, lonely lives.’

Duplass elaborated on the young director’s preparedness in an Instagram video, saying, ‘I was there. I suspect one of the reasons I was hired was because I mentor a lot of young filmmakers, and they may have thought it was good to have someone there who’s sensitive to that. And I was prepared to help out. And what happened was he didn’t need any of us. He was intensely prepared,’ according to TheWrap.

Industry Reactions and Rumors

Some users, including those claiming to work in the film industry, questioned whether a 19-year-old could be entrusted with directing a major A24 horror film without significant oversight. However, Duplass’s comments suggest that Parsons was fully capable of handling the role.

Sophy Romvari, director of Blue Heron, commented on the discussion surrounding Parsons, writing on X, ‘Jealousy fuels so much of this type of discourse about age and success. That said, I can confidently say I’m very glad I made my first feature at 34 instead of in my 20’s — I’m a much better filmmaker now,’ according to Variety.

Backrooms is expected to gross between $40,50 million domestically, according to TheWrap. The film adapts Parsons’ YouTube series into a feature-length narrative about a furniture store owner who discovers a mysterious doorway to an otherworldly dimension.

Parsons’ work on set included extensive set design, with the production team building 30,000 square feet of actual backrooms and conducting 50 wallpaper tests to get the right shade of yellow, according to Variety. ‘We built 30,000 square feet of actual backrooms that we could walk around in. Actually, some people were getting lost. It felt like being there, which was really weird,’ Parsons said at CCXP Mexico.