Hideo Kojima is a fan of the Backrooms. The Death Stranding creator appeared alongside director Kane Parsons at a Tokyo screening of the film on September 4th, and he made his admiration plain. He also hinted that the two may work together in the future.
The film has finally reached Japanese cinemas, months after its United States release. Kojima has been involved in the rollout, sharing comments for promotional posters and joining Parsons for a Q&A session after the screening in Roppongi. As reported by Japanese entertainment news site Eiga Natalie, the pair spoke shortly following the screening.
“I’d already seen the Backrooms short film, so I had been curious for a long time about what sort of film this would turn out to be,” Kojima said. “The movie is full of clever tricks, and its art and sound direction are so inspired, it honestly makes me a little jealous!”
He went on to praise the film’s structure and design. “I don’t want to give too much away because of spoilers, but I also find the structure of the story fascinating as well, the visual design and sound is so well-incorporated, I can hardly compete with such talent!”
Kojima’s History With A24
Kojima’s involvement is not entirely surprising. The Backrooms was produced by A24, the same company he is working with to create a film of his own. A third-party company is distributing the film in Japan, but the A24 connection gives Kojima a natural link to the project.
The game designer has encyclopedic cinema knowledge. He has a habit of bringing the film stars and directors he respects into his own projects. Parsons was photographed at the entrance to Kojima Productions just before the screening, a spot many film figures have occupied before him.
This pattern is well documented across Kojima’s career. He has brought actors and directors from film into his game projects, and the photograph at the studio entrance is often the first sign of a future collaboration. Parsons joining that list suggests Kojima sees something in the young director worth keeping close.
The Roppongi Screening
The September 4th screening took place in Roppongi, Tokyo. It was the centerpiece of the film’s Japanese rollout, and it drew a notable crowd. Parsons attended the event, along with Risa Unai, Yanpi, and Emma Iggo, who joined the stage greeting. Kojima shared photos from the event on his Twitter account, including one of himself with Parsons.
The screening itself was part of a broader promotional push. Kojima had already shared comments for the film’s promotional posters in Japan. The Q&A session with Parsons was a further step, giving Japanese audiences a chance to hear both men discuss the film directly.
Kojima’s presence at the screening drew attention because of his reputation. He is known as a serious student of cinema, and his endorsement carries weight with audiences in Japan. His participation in the Q&A was therefore more than a casual appearance — it was a signal of real interest.
A G-Rating Surprise
The Backrooms earned an R rating in the United States. Most other countries gave it high ratings as well. Japan took a different path, handing the film a G rating, which means it is unrestricted for all ages.
That decision created an unusual screening atmosphere. Kojima attended with an audience full of parents and young children. When the lights came up, he heard kids telling their parents they might not sleep that night.
Kojima shared the moment on Twitter. “A little boy bombarded his father with questions: ‘The Backrooms are so huge. How did they make them? It has to be CG, right?'” he wrote. “When his father didn’t answer, I almost leaned over and said, ‘It’s all sets,’ but stopped myself.”
The rating difference is striking. An R rating in the US typically signals intense content, while a G rating in Japan means the film was cleared for all ages. The result was a screening where young children sat through a horror film that had been rated for adults elsewhere.
Parsons Hints At A Collaboration
Parsons had his own news to share during the Q&A. After discussing his admiration for Japanese architecture and other things he appreciated during his trip, he suggested this would not be their last meeting.
“I’d love to collaborate with a certain someone in the near future,” he said.
He did not name that someone. But given the setting, the screening, and the photograph at Kojima Productions, the implication was clear enough. Kojima has a track record of collecting talent, and film stars and directors he respects have a way of showing up in his games.
Parsons also spoke warmly about his time in Japan. He mentioned Japanese architecture and other aspects of the trip that impressed him. The tone of his comments suggested genuine appreciation rather than polite promotion.
The Backrooms Phenomenon
The Backrooms has been a phenomenon. It grew from a short film into this feature-length production directed by Parsons. The story is built around liminal spaces and the dread they establish.
The film has online roots, and that dread is part of what drew Kojima to it. The way it was made also clearly landed with him. He has praised the film’s craft in specific terms, calling the art direction, the sound design, and the structure of the story all inspired. He said he could “hardly compete” with the talent on display.
The short film that started it all was already known to Kojima. He said he had been curious for a long time about what a feature-length version would look like. That curiosity, combined with his admiration for the finished product, explains his involvement in the Japanese release.
Kojima’s Jealousy
The most striking part of Kojima’s comments is the jealousy. He said the film’s art and sound direction made him envious. He praised the film’s “clever tricks” and the way its visual design and sound work together. He said he could not compete with the talent involved.
The comment also suggests why he might want to work with Parsons. If he admires the director’s craft that much, bringing him into a project would be a natural move. The admiration was mutual — Parsons spoke warmly of his trip to Japan, mentioning Japanese architecture and other things he appreciated during his visit.
Kojima’s jealousy is a specific kind of praise. He is not merely saying the film is good. He is saying it made him feel inadequate as a creator. That is a stronger statement from someone with his reputation, and it signals deep respect for Parsons’ work.
The Future
Nothing is official. Parsons said he would love to collaborate, and Kojima has shown interest. That is the full extent of what has been announced. But the pieces are in place. A24 is already working with Kojima on his own film. Parsons made a film for A24. The two creators have now met, talked, and publicly expressed mutual respect.
Kojima collects the people he admires. Parsons has been photographed at the studio entrance, and he has said he wants to work together again. Whether anything comes of this meeting remains to be seen.
Here is what we know about the timeline of the Backrooms release and Kojima’s involvement:
- The Backrooms short film was released online.
- Kane Parsons directed a feature-length version, produced by A24.
- The film was released in United States cinemas with an R rating.
- Months later, the film opened in Japanese cinemas with a G rating.
- Hideo Kojima attended the September 4th screening in Roppongi, Tokyo.
- Kojima shared his praise for the film and hinted at a possible future collaboration with Parsons.
| Film | US Rating | Japan Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Backrooms | R | G |
The boy who could not sleep after the Backrooms will grow up knowing that the man who made Death Stranding was in the room with him, almost leaning over to tell his father it was all sets. That is the kind of detail Kojima notices and keeps. If he ever does work with Parsons, that moment in Roppongi will be part of the story.
Source: kotaku.com
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.