Young directors, big scares: Horror films by early-twenties filmmakers dominate box office

A new wave of young talent is making waves in the horror film industry, with directors in their early twenties achieving remarkable box office success. In North America, the film 'Backrooms,' directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, has become a cultural phenomenon, grossing 20 times its production budget within just two weeks of its release on May 29. Parsons, who began his career as a YouTuber, directed the film based on his popular 'Backrooms' series, which he started creating at age 16.

Another notable success is 'Obsession,' directed by 26-year-old comedian and YouTuber Curry Barker. This psychological horror film, made on a shoestring budget of $750,000, has surpassed $200 million in worldwide revenue. Initially overlooked upon its release on May 15, 'Obsession' gained momentum through word-of-mouth, climbing to the number one spot at the box office in its fourth week.

These successes highlight a shift in filmmaking, with established studios like A24 and Blumhouse recognizing and nurturing young directorial talent who may not have traditional film school backgrounds. James Wan, a producer on 'Backrooms,' noted that Parsons' youth and lack of adherence to commercial filmmaking conventions allowed him to focus solely on the film and fan expectations. This trend is also visible in South Korea, where Lee Sang-min, born in 1995, made his feature directorial debut with the horror film 'Salmokji,' which has drawn nearly 3 million viewers.

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He is so young and new that he is not tainted by commercial filmmaking practices, and he doesn't care about opening weekend numbers or typical studio interference. He just focuses on the movie and the fans' expectations, and the fans showed up.