If You Love Backrooms, Watch This Underrated Thriller That Inspired Kane Parsons

Published Jun 7, 2026, 5:31 PM EDT

Despite his originality, Parsons has never shied away from discussing the media that inspired his film. From video games to underrated movies, Parsons pulled from multiple sources to make Backrooms a reality. Since there are no other movies around like the A24 blockbuster (at least until a sequel arrives), seeking out Parsons' inspirations is a good way to scratch the itch for more Backrooms-esque content.

One movie in particular was called out by Parsons in a recent interview, and it proves the youngster knows his stuff. Though the underrated 2000s thriller has a totally different story, certain visual cues and deeper themes are repeated in Backrooms. Perhaps the explosion of popularity for the new movie will inspire audiences to look back on such an unsung gem.

Kane Parsons Cites One Hour Photo As A Major Inspiration For Backrooms

In an interview with Letterboxd, Kane Parsons dove deep into the media that most inspired him when making Backrooms. While he shouted out video games like Portal 2, he spent a lot of time describing why One Hour Photo is so influential to his work. The 2002 Robin Williams vehicle sees the legendary funnyman play a lonely photo developer who forms an obsessive bond with a family.

Parsons told Letterboxd, "it's the one we referenced the most...certainly on the cinematography front and acoustic front." One look at Backrooms, and it isn't hard to see how much the young director drew from Mark Romanek's film. Both stories feature liminal environments that act as symbols for the inner turmoil of the characters. Both movies were also released during periods of great change, and reflect the anxiety of those tumultuous times.

Backrooms feels very much like the 2020s version of One Hour Photo, updating its ideas for the social media age. The alienation of the modern world is what drives Sy's delusions in One Hour Photo, just as they craft and distort the titular environs in Backrooms. The monotony and familiarity of the store that Sy works in keeps the entire world off-balance as everything is just a bit off.

One Hour Photo Is A Cult Classic Thriller That Has Stood The Test Of Time

Though One Hour Photo did pretty well at the box office, and got decent reviews, the psychological thriller is largely forgotten more than 20 years later. The novelty of seeing Robin Williams in a dramatic role put a lot of butts in seats, but One Hour Photo faded quickly. This is likely due to the fact that it's a disturbing flick that borders on outright horror, and is a bit too real for comfort.

All these years later, One Hour Photo has stood the test of time. Its themes of loneliness and obsession have only been strengthened by the societal changes of the ensuing decades. What's more, the stark, bright, and symmetrical visuals continue to influence filmmakers. It captures the precarious nature of the world's collective mental state, and how important order is to the lives of millions.

One Hour Photo shouldn't just be remembered as an inspiration for Backrooms but also as a prescient story that was a bit ahead of its time. Williams is disturbing in the lead role, and it's a thriller that puts some horror flicks to shame. Though it isn't a perfect film, there's more to One Hour Photo than meets the eye.

Sources: Letterboxd, Variety, Box Office Mojo