Steven Spielberg is set to produce a feature film adaptation of the popular YouTube horror series The Mandela Catalogue, with the series' original creator, Alex Kister, attached to direct. The project is being developed for Amazon MGM.
The Mandela Catalogue YouTube series, which Kister began creating at age 17, revolves around demonic doppelgangers that manipulate victims into self-harm. The series is a prominent example of the "analog horror" subgenre, employing the visual style of VHS tapes and other distorted, low-fidelity recordings to create its unsettling atmosphere. Kister has noted that a significant portion of the series was produced using only his phone.
Details regarding the film's plot remain undisclosed, and it is unclear if the movie will directly adapt the events of the YouTube series or expand upon its universe, similar to the approach taken with "Backrooms." However, the move highlights Hollywood's increasing interest in leveraging online horror content and emerging digital talent for new intellectual property.
This trend is echoed in other recent adaptations. Warner Bros. recently announced that Zach Cregger will write and direct a film based on the internet character Siren Head. Separately, the "Backrooms" creepypasta, popularized by YouTuber Kane Parsons (Kane Pixels), has already seen a successful feature film adaptation that has grossed over $300 million worldwide. An extended cut of "Backrooms" is slated for a theatrical re-release, and Parsons is reportedly exploring a sequel.
Another notable success story is "Obsession," an original film by YouTuber Curry Barker, which grossed over $370 million on a modest $750,000 budget. Barker, who is also working on the upcoming A24 "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" film, suggested that such successes stem from a generational desire for original, well-crafted stories. He stated that audiences are eager for films that feel authentic and avoid being rushed or overproduced, emphasizing a hunger for good storytelling regardless of IP status.