Director Christopher Nolan has commented on the recent success of the indie horror film "The Backrooms," attributing its appeal to practical effects and a rejection of artificial intelligence by younger audiences. Nolan, known for films like "Oppenheimer" and "Interstellar," shared his views in an interview with The Telegraph.
Nolan highlighted that films like "The Backrooms" and "Infinity Pool," which utilize practical effects, are resonating with younger viewers. He noted that these movies often feature mysterious and experimental elements, akin to the work of David Lynch, and are proving popular despite their unconventional nature. This observation led Nolan to dismiss arguments that younger generations have attention spans too short for longer, more contemplative films.
"This is why I never bought into the arguments that young audiences’ attention spans are too fried to enjoy a three-hour Greek epic," Nolan stated, referencing the positive reception to "The Backrooms" and other indie hits. "Those films are so mysterious and ruminative. I mean, parts of Backrooms are like David Lynch at his most obscure. And yet young people can’t get enough of them."
The director specifically pointed to the filmmakers behind "The Backrooms" and "Infinity Pool," who have publicly expressed skepticism towards AI in filmmaking and prioritized practical effects. Nolan observed a widespread and rapid rejection of AI in the arts, particularly among Gen Z, despite the technology's aggressive promotion.
"I’ve never seen a more rapid wholesale dismissal of a supposedly foundational jump in technology in my lifetime," Nolan said regarding AI's reception. "So much energy has been expended on bringing in AI, but if you look at that generation’s reaction, they’re utterly rejecting it."
Nolan elaborated on this trend by discussing his own children and their peers. "Their judgment of AI slop has been immediate and harsh," he observed. "They see it for what it is very quickly—and it’s much easier for them to identify it, because it grew out of an online world they know really well. And while that doesn’t mean that every aspect of the technology is useless or meaningless, in film-making it’s hitting at exactly the wrong time. After years of driving towards heavily virtual environments, we’re seeing a renewed interest in more tactile, more real forms of storytelling."
This sentiment extends beyond filmmaking, with analogue methods gaining increased value as proof of work across various creative fields. The gaming industry, in particular, has seen a near-universal rejection of AI-generated material by audiences and critics. The consequences for studios or individuals caught using such assets can range from public backlash to formal apologies, a trend Nolan believes is unlikely to change soon.