Commentary: To understand Gen Z, look not to Hollywood but to indie horror films
Backrooms and Obsession turn Gen Z insecurities into sources of horror, says undergraduate Zara Waseem.
Gen Z's insecurities and anxieties are reflected in the rise of indie horror films, rather than traditional Hollywood blockbusters, according to undergraduate Zara Waseem. The Backrooms, an online phenomenon, has become a quintessential Gen Z film, capturing the generation's sense of dread and drawing viewers into an expansive online world.
Both Backrooms and Obsession turn Gen Z's insecurities into sources of horror, highlighting the generation's difficulties with communication, vulnerability, and the blurred lines between reality and the virtual world due to the rise of AI. Gen Z's active movie-going habits and desire for authentic representation in films are also explored, with Backrooms providing a more accurate reflection of the generation than conventional blockbusters.
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