Kane Parsons Was Inspired by This Robin Williams Mystery Drama While Making 'Backrooms'

Kane Parsons, director of Backrooms, the film about endless yellow corridors which is already being hailed as one of the most unusual genre experiments of the year, is open about his inspirations.

These include the video game Portal 2, the TV series Mr. Robot, Satoshi Kon's anime Paranoia Agent, and the Robin Williams psychological thriller One Hour Photo.

Often unfairly overlooked, this 2002 movie is a dark, tense story that proves Robin Williams was as much a great dramatic actor as he was a brilliant comedian.

What Is 'One Hour Photo' About?

Sy (Robin Williams) is a lonely photo lab manager. His life revolves entirely around work and the only solace he has is the Yorkin family. Over the years, Sy develops photographs for them and becomes attached to them.

But this attachment goes too far. He makes copies of their family photos, covers the walls of his apartment with them, and begins to imagine himself as a member of the family. He follows the Yorkins, studies their habits and even secretly enters their home.

Over time, Sy's obsession takes a dangerous and aggressive turn, especially when he discovers that the father is having an affair.

In 'One Hour Photo', Robin Williams Shed His Usual Good-Natured Comedian Persona, Becoming a Man Without a Face

In One Hour Photo, Robin Williams strays far from his usual image – we're used to seeing him play charming, energetic characters, but here he portrays a reclusive man whose inner pain gradually turns into obsession.

The actor wasn't specially made up, but his Sy is so unlike Williams' usual roles that many viewers said they forgot who was playing the lead just a few minutes into the film – a fact of which Williams was quite proud.

By adopting a darker persona, Williams retained none of his natural charm, his fearless performance made this one of the most extraordinary movies of 2002.

'One Hour Photo' Is a Tense Thriller That Remains Compelling to This Day

One Hour Photo is more accurately classified as a thriller, but the plot itself creates a genuine sense of dread in the viewer. The idea that someone unnoticed and unknown to us could delve into our lives, study our photos, spy on our every move and even sneak into our homes is unsettling.

The protagonist – or rather, the main villain – is someone we wouldn't notice in everyday life, yet he knows our habits, weaknesses and hobbies, he spies on us and visits when we least expect it.

One Hour Photo is an underrated masterpiece and a must-see for anyone who considers Robin Williams to be purely a comedian.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'One Hour Photo'?

• One Hour Photo has 82% from critics and 65% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.8/10.

• On Letterboxd, One Hour Photo scored 3.5/5.0.

Where to Watch 'One Hour Photo'?

One Hour Photo is available to stream on Disney+.