Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, the producer behind films like Whiplash and Midnight Special, has joined Oddfellows, the production company known for the upcoming horror adaptation The Backrooms, as a partner and co-president. The move brings a seasoned independent film veteran into a leadership role at a company that has quickly made a name for itself in genre filmmaking.
Kavanaugh-Jones’s appointment signals a significant step for Oddfellows, which was founded by its current leadership and has been building a slate of ambitious, often unsettling projects. His track record includes a long run at the production banner Automatik, where he shepherded a string of acclaimed independent features, collaborating with directors such as Damien Chazelle and Jeff Nichols. That history of working closely with auteurs on mid-budget dramas and thrillers is expected to complement Oddfellows’s existing focus on elevated horror and science fiction.
The company’s most high-profile project, The Backrooms, is based on the viral internet phenomenon of the same name - a series of eerie, maze-like empty spaces that became a cultural touchstone for online horror. Directed by Kane Parsons, who first gained attention for his short films exploring the concept, the feature adaptation has generated considerable buzz within the industry, though details about its release remain under wraps. Kavanaugh-Jones’s arrival could help guide that project through production and into theaters, given his experience shepherding films from development to distribution.
In a statement, Kavanaugh-Jones expressed enthusiasm for the new role, emphasizing the alignment between his own taste and the company’s ambitions. He noted that Oddfellows has carved out a distinctive space in the current landscape, one that prioritizes original storytelling over franchise-driven fare. He pointed to the team’s energy and the strength of their upcoming slate as key reasons for joining, adding that he looks forward to building on that foundation.
Oddfellows’s leadership welcomed him with similar language, praising his instincts and his relationships across the industry. They highlighted his ability to identify compelling material early, as well as his reputation for being a filmmaker-first producer, which they believe will strengthen their efforts to attract top-tier talent. The partnership appears to be a natural fit, as both sides have emphasized a shared commitment to character-driven narratives wrapped in genre packaging.
The news arrives at a moment when the independent film sector is navigating a tricky marketplace. Theatrical audiences have become more selective, while streaming platforms have shifted their appetites, creating both challenges and opportunities for producers like Kavanaugh-Jones. His experience in releasing films through traditional distributors, as well as his work with newer platforms, could prove valuable as Oddfellows seeks to maximize the reach of its projects.
Before his time at Automatik, Kavanaugh-Jones had built a resume that includes The Gift, The Invitation, and Disobedience, among others. Those films, while varied in tone and subject, share a certain intensity and a willingness to explore uncomfortable emotional territory. That sensibility aligns well with Oddfellows’s catalog, which has leaned into psychological unease and speculative concepts rather than straightforward scares.
For producers working in the horror and thriller space, the appeal of a collaborator like Kavanaugh-Jones is often about more than just funding. His ability to manage complex productions, from casting to post-production, allows directors to focus on their creative vision. He has also been known for championing first-time directors and helping them navigate the often-daunting logistics of a feature shoot, an approach that could mesh with Parsons’s relatively new status as a filmmaker making the leap from shorts to a full-length movie.
Oddfellows has been quietly expanding its footprint over the past few years, with several other projects in various stages of development. While none have been officially announced alongside this news, the addition of a co-president typically signals an intent to scale up production volume. Kavanaugh-Jones’s network, built over two decades in the business, should open doors to new financing sources and distribution deals, potentially giving the company more flexibility in how it structures its releases.
The announcement also underscores a broader trend in independent cinema, where established producers are increasingly partnering with younger, more agile companies rather than launching their own banners. That model allows for shared resources and reduced overhead while maintaining creative independence. For Kavanaugh-Jones, joining Oddfellows may offer a more streamlined operation than his previous post, with fewer bureaucratic layers and quicker decision-making.
As for what comes next, no specific projects have been tied to the appointment. Those familiar with Kavanaugh-Jones’s work predict he will likely focus on expanding the company’s slate beyond horror into adjacent genres, such as crime dramas and dark character studies, while maintaining the distinct voice that has defined the banner so far. Whether The Backrooms serves as the flagship for this new partnership or merely one of several initiatives, the combination of his track record and the company’s momentum makes this one of the more notable producer moves of the year.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter