What Is Gen Z Afraid of?

Two young horror directors tap into their generation’s cultural unease—and win the box office doing it.

sabato 20 giugno 2026 New tab

TL;DRAI

Directors Kane Parsons (21) and Barker (26) are dominating the box office with horror capturing Gen Z's cultural anxieties. Tech leaders should note Gen Z's appetite for authentic narratives reflecting their worldview—a key signal for product positioning.

157 words~1 min read

Two young horror directors tap into their generation’s cultural unease—and win the box office doing it.

Illustration by Noah Hickey/The Dispatch (Photos courtesy of A24 and Blumhouse Productions).

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“What’s wrong with kids these days?” Two freshman directors, 26-year-old Curry Barker of Obsession and 21-year-old Kane Parsons of Backrooms, seem to have figured it out. And the box office is rewarding them for it.