030: Gen Z Takes Hollywood: Obsession & The Backrooms

Not since the cultural phenomenon of Barbenheimer has the cinema seen a box office boom quite like this. But this time, the revolution isn't coming from legacy directors or massive studio IP—it's coming straight from YouTube. In this episode of Out There in the Dark, we are breaking down the staggering, paradigm-shifting success of Kane Parsons’ The Backrooms and Curry Barker’s Obsession. Both of these micro-budget, high-concept psychological thrillers bypassed the traditional Hollywood machine, proving that a brilliant premise and a dedicated digital community can completely upend the studio algorithm. With no massive stars leading the way, these two films have officially achieved blockbuster status, rewriting the rules of what makes a modern movie event. Join Azed and Tom as they get "obsessive" and noclip deep into the cultural significance, hidden anxieties, and cinematic architecture of these two groundbreaking films. Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and join us out there in the dark.