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I have generally seen backdrop in the following form: "against the backdrop of"
However, in an article I found the following sentence:
It is the story of a complex relationship and clashing ideologies between a father and son set in the backdrop of the kidnapping industry.
Is it the right way to use backdrop in this form: "in the backdrop of"?
As Lambie comments, that sentence is incorrect. It's totally unambiguous, and when spoken it would go unnoticed, but it is wrong in writing.
Corrected:
It is the story of a complex relationship and clashing ideologies between a father and son, set against the backdrop of the kidnapping industry.
(I've added a comma after "son", to break up the sentence. It's not required, but I prefer it.)