Kane Parsons has responded to rumours that he ghost directed his horror hit Backrooms.
The film, based on his web series, stars Renate Reinsve as a therapist who enters a parallel dimension made of liminal spaces to search for her patient (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
The director’s young age of 20, and inexperience being at the helm of a major motion picture, led to a theory online that another filmmaker stepped in as “ghost director”, a term for someone who makes the decisions on-set while another person is credited and delivers their instructions to the crew.
Kane Parsons responds to claims that someone ghost-directed ‘Backrooms’ 😂 pic.twitter.com/bqxKRoTX7V
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) May 27, 2026
Parsons saw the funny side of the rumours, commenting yesterday on a YouTube video recounting the theory. “This is actually all true,” he joked, in a comment which has since been pinned by the YouTuber.
“They don’t tell you this, but 96 per cent of all movies released in North America and Europe are actually directed by the same person. They call him ‘The Older Gentleman.’ He has had all of Hollywood in a chokehold for decades now.
“They make you sign over all of your intellectual property, life rights, and genetic information to him when you enter the industry. He loves movies.”
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. https://t.co/GXQsI5jxG0
— Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) May 26, 2026
In a more serious response, cast member Mark Duplass responded to someone spreading the rumour on X (formerly Twitter): “Hmmm, with all due respect I don’t remember seeing you on set. When I was there, Kane was 100 per cent in control. More so than many directors 3x his age.”
Backrooms is in UK cinemas from May 29. NME’s four-star review said: “Backrooms vibes-based momentum won’t be to everyone’s taste. For some there’ll be too much explanation and for others, too little. But it’s an intriguing, memorable creation with the power to rattle, as Parsons lurks in the intersection between dread and delirium. Well worth exploring.”