| Director | Kane Parsons |
| Producer | James Wan, Michael Clear, Roberto Patino, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, Osgood Perkins, Chris Ferguson, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Kori Adelson |
| Actors | Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell |
| Music | Edo Van Breemen, Kane Parsons |
| Cinematography | Jeremy Cox |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | 110 minutes |
| Budget | $10 million |
| Box Office | $272.7 million |
Backrooms is a movie based on the web series and the creepypasta. The film follows Clark, who is dealing with some problems with his marriage and his career. He also visits a therapist named Mary, who also deals with her own trauma. Clark discovers the Backrooms and starts exploring. In the second half of the movie, we see the real meaning of the Backrooms, along with a plot twist to Clark's character. However, I thought this was quite rushed, and they could've expanded more on what the Backrooms really meant instead of just expecting the audience to figure it out since the vibes of the first and second halves of the movie were really different. These include the Async company, which was barely shown, and the "entities" in the Backrooms. The metaphor of the Backrooms was pretty interesting though. It did make sense and was overall a great idea for the characters they made here. The ending may be a bit confusing, though, but if you really think about it, it does make sense for what Mary experienced in the Backrooms, even if it isn't clear what really happened to her or Async afterwards.
The set designs were really good, though, as they were built like mazes that really set the tone of the movie. The lighting also created an eerie vibe of this other dimension that the characters go into. However, I was disappointed since I wanted to see more rooms and spend more time in them. We only saw rooms for a minute or less, and then we moved on.
Backrooms is a surprising horror film that has a great atmosphere, an eerie vibe, and a very interesting premise and metaphor. However, it lacks some exposition and character development to truly make it a modern classic.
Backrooms is a fascinating horror-film about the self-defeating cycles we all occasionally find ourselves trapped within. It's about the liminal spaces which exist in our minds, where we sometimes get lost.
Backrooms is also about a literal maze of hallways which opens up and swallows people, and about the monsters found there.
It's both an artful metaphor, and a creature-feature - and it balances both those things perfectly. That's not as easy as this film makes it seem. I had some quibbles with certain plot-developments - but overall, I really enjoyed this film. Due to its compelling ambiguity and its keen visual style, I suspect it will be highly re-watchable.
This is an impressive debut from director Kane Parsons, who based the film largely on his own series of popular YouTube shorts, which he distributed under the name Kane Pixels. Those shorts were, in turn, based on a creepypasta which traces its origin back to 2019 (but feels like it's been around much longer). So Parsons wasn't exactly the person who "invented" the idea of the Backrooms, but his shorts were among the most viral Backrooms content. That's why A24 gave him a movie-deal, or so the story goes.
Anyway, Parsons is one of the talking-points here, because he's the latest (and perhaps the most widely-known) YouTuber to get his own movie. It's become a bit of a trend, following Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach's Iron Lung, Curry Barker's Obsession, and others. Parsons is young - only 20! - and so, there's an observation to be made about the way that technology has enabled a new, young generation of filmmakers to bypass traditional gatekeepers.
But that talking-point wouldn't be so interesting if these films weren't good - and I mean, I can't speak for Iron Lung or Obsession because I haven't seen them yet. Word is that they're certainly not bad. But Backrooms? Well, this film was far better than I had dared to expect. Color me impressed.
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Let me back-up for a moment, though, into my own personal backrooms. See, I must confess that I have a soft-spot for the basic ideas this film is based around.
Sometime in the 1990s, I recall telling my brother about my personal vision of Hell. It wouldn't be some fire-and-brimstone place, I said - but a never-ending network of interlinked rooms and corridors, which you would wander, forever alone. There would be evidence of other people, and sometimes you might hear others talking behind the walls - but they could never hear you and you'd never be able to find them.
Such thoughts must have been in the zeitgeist, because in March of 2000, author Mark Z. Danielewski published a postmodern horror-novel called House of Leaves, which effectively imagines a very similar scenario: A family discovers a new door inside their house, which leads into an endless, ever-shifting labyrinth of rooms below. They explore at their own peril, and get lost in their own private mazes.
That novel made a huge impression on me, as it did on many. For many years, people online buzzed about what a great film it might make.
So, I come to Backrooms as a longtime fan of House of Leaves. And to fans of that book, I am saying: Backrooms isn't exactly "The Navidson Record" - but the DNA of that story can be strongly felt here. In many ways, Backrooms is the film I was hoping "The Navidson Record" might be.
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Backrooms primarily revolves around Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Mary (Renate Reinsve). He's a furniture-salesman in midlife-crisis mode, who was recently kicked out of his house by a wife who didn't appreciate his drinking or his course manner. Mary's his shrink, but she has secret crises of her own - which are detailed in dreamlike sequences by the film. Clark discovers a mysterious portal in the basement of his store, which enters a space he doesn't understand, and he tells Mary about it. Their characters are well-defined, and both Ejiofor and Reinsve bring depth to these people without overselling the emotional beats.
The script helps, frequently providing Clark and Mary with interesting things to say. Even when they're just trying to describe the strange space they've discovered out loud, the metaphors they grapple with are interesting, and contain a kind of matter-of-fact poetry.
But where this film really shines is in the cinematography, and the sound-design. Those elements work together here, with maximum intent, to help tell this story.
I'm a sucker for a film that's shot with a strong eye. Backrooms finds a way to put its story into the visuals - while also keeping the visuals dreamlike, surreal, uncanny, and liminal. The film mixes visual-styles, largely telling the story of Clark and Mary in a crisp, modern, cinematic style - but switching to grainy handheld video on occasions when a character is using a videocamera. This allows the film to benefit from the artful restraint of classical cinematography, while also leaning-into the visceral nature of the "found-footage" style when appropriate. The film makes great use of both styles - but I was particularly impressed in how Parsons and his crew evoked liminality and the film's various themes through the classical camerawork on display here. Make no mistake: There are some beautiful images here - and beautifully-unsettling ones as well.
Ultimately, the film fell a little short for me in its final half, due to the actions of a certain character, and certain moments which followed from that. It's one of those things where - well, I didn't exactly feel like this character wouldn't do that - but I had just sort of hoped for a finale that avoided the darkest possible outcome for this person.
But you know, sometimes our inner demons get the better of us - and I guess that's what the idea is here, especially given the exact shape of the monster which reveals itself... And that's as far as I can go, without giving away major spoilers.
Ultimately, I found Backrooms to be a very satisfying film, which truly surpassed my expectations. If I had certain problems with the final half, they weren't dealbreakers. I have a feeling these rooms will be interesting to revisit - yellow wallpaper and all.
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Find more of my reviews under the name Mazus Graves at:
www . Outlandobserver . Com.
I am not the best person to leave a review here since the last movies i saw in theaters was cars 2 when it came out and fast and furious 6. Still, i enjoyed the movie. The ambience of it is lovely and very well done, sadly, the only intense moments are when there is suspense or all of the sudden action that catches you by surprise, the rest felt pretty boring, deep but boring at the same time (somehow). I love the fact that they didnt add any of the new "slop" made by new fans that didnt know what the backrooms ACTUALLY are (tiktok users etc). I am sure that when the movie ended, everyone in the theater thought at the same time "thats it?". They could have made at least half an hour more of movie, with a more concrete ending.
My main issue with the Backrooms movie is Kane Parsons attempt to make the movie into too many different things. There are many themes, and not enough time to go through every one which leaves the viewer asking for more. It's honestly fairly deep and I enjoyed watching it, it just felt like many aspects were not developed enough so the movie seemed to go every direction.
Nice movie but it doesn't feel complete. Ending felt vague enough to make a sequel or two. The cinematography is good and it has good acting. I don't know what I was expecting but I left feeling incomplete. I'm hopeful for the next movie they release. I know I repeated myself a few times but the movie doesn't really leave me much to talk about.
"Backrooms" is Kane Parsons' feature film debut and extension of his YouTube series, where the shady tech company Async monitors, documents and researches the titular Backrooms, an extra-dimensional space that defies logic and reason.
The movie, set in June of 1990, is an incredible and wonderfully original work. Feeling like a surreal blend of David Lynch and Mike Flanagan, with heavy emphasis on dream-like atmosphere, the movie both expands upon and even answers some questions from the series while asking new questions. The acting is phenomenal, especially Ejiofor and Reinsve, and the visuals are some of the best A24 has ever produced, due in no small part to Parsons' vision and Jeremy Cox's cinematography.
My only issue with the movie is the speculation about what the Backrooms are, because it does contradict the very first short film from Kane to some degree, but besides that nitpick, this is a phenomenal feature debut.
Personally I feel like they could have smoothed out the ending out a bit more and give us a bit more information about what's going to happen in future movies, it felt like we were getting somewhere, and then yeah we are done. Don't get me wrong, I was hooked. I think the psychologist added a really good touch.
The story is fascinating but it's ambiguity can be annoying, especially to those unfamiliar with the Backrooms lore. The sets are well designed and look eerie. The sound/music is on point creating a confusing and creepy atmosphere additionally aided by the notable cinematography. Though the progression of the characters in the story imo has racist connotations.
The reveal menacing character in the final third was also comical, cheap looking and off tune to the horror theme of the film, like it was satirical.
The Backrooms is a psychological horror film based on a video series on YouTube which itself is based on a internet meme about a liminal space. The director made the YouTube videos from 16 onwards and they're actually really good and provides a lot more lore and context to the film: which is made by the same director now 20 years old! Impressive work for someone so young!
This concept of an indoor world that's a flawed copy of a copy, of a copy of reality, all turned into a maze with weird and scary things and figures going around was interesting, creepy and annoying. Overall it was enjoyable. It even has rewatchability to it because of its ambiguity, fuel for endless videos on YouTube trying to explain that ambiguity.
The movie was very dreadful, maintaining the feeling and emotion Kane was attempting to convey. I personally enjoyed the movie for the realistic psychological aspects that were explored and how they were supplied in the actual Backrooms location. Moreover, the CGI was incredible and the VFX was very detailed, being composited in extremely well, alongside the practical effects and extremely well designed set. To me, this movie was really good! One aspect I did not like is the lack of exploration/explanation on the lore, which I believe will be in the next installment.
8/10.
I really enjoyed my time with backrooms. The visuals were really great, the whole feel and look of the backrooms was captured amazingly. The movie nailed the liminal feel very very well. Some of the story beats were a bit messy, but the overall themes of the movie really left an impression on me. Overall a really good time, Highly recommend checking it out if youre a fan of the backrooms and liminal spaces as a whole.
So honestly, before all the online research i would have given this only one star. But then i realised my flaws in being fresh to the movie review arena i did some research and now it makes some sense to me. Clark and his inability to be at piece and recognise his own flaws makes him built or rather say dwell in the backrooms which eventually consumes him. The research also made be understand how a youtuber who used to post videos of backrooms based on pop culture references and the idea of say alternate dimension or the upside down, pulled of such amazing stuff. Honestly we went in for the hype, were not much satisfied with the ending, but now it makes sense and i rather say its more enjoyable now.
With very little introduction and a creepy premise, we are thrust into the world of the Backrooms, sensing the overwhelming vastness and emptiness that is being displayed on the screen. Everything is claustrophobic and difficult to decipher by intention, as we hear off the screen a struggle to the death.
From that point on, we are sitting in our seats, waiting for the world of the Backrooms to be shown once again. Unlike the creepy pasta on YouTube, we are given a very tangible story as the owner of a failing furniture store stumbles across the oddity of the Backrooms during one creepy night alone.
Little is mentioned about the origin or the complexity of the Backrooms, as we are meant to experience it in a found footage format for much of the middle potion of the film. While I enjoyed this aspect of the film, I preferred the cleaner, more steady version. Seeing it clearly and beautifully rendered made it much creepier in my opinion.
Now of course, did the movie have legit scares? Sure, I held my breath when the main character heard the stalking monster for the first time. I definitely preferred the off-screen violence versus the onscreen, mainly because it just seems more realistic. You're not going to stick around and watch someone get killed, you are gonna run like mad and get out of there.
The thing I worry the most about this series is whether they will run it into the ground with endless sequels, because this series has the potential for a neverending string of movies. With A24 at the helm, we shall see what they want to do with the property.
I won't reveal the rather unique and weird ending, but it's definitely a perfect simile to the story. Sometimes, we can never really understand the unknowable.
Let me say up front I saw this based purely off the trailer. I haven't seen the web series or know anything about the lore, and until a few days ago I'd never even heard the term "creepy pasta."
So, with those provisos out of the way ...
For the first hour or so, this was a heck of a ride. The found footage scenes, the lighting, the sound effects, the performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve - all top notch. It had this surreal eeriness to it, sort of like a David Lynch movie (although it's slightly more coherent than a David Lynch movie).
Then when we see the creature in the third act - I don't know. It was just so absurd that it kind of killed the tension for me from that point on. It went from something Lynchian to something out of Goosebumps.
In fact, if I had to compare this to the last horror film I saw, Hokum, I'd say that Hokum scared me more and held together better.
With that said, this was quite the experience and the filmmakers should be congratulated for making something original which has truly captured the public imagination. Bravo.
Scared me so bad with all the jumpscares... so just that adds to the score ! I loved how the pov camera really captured emotions and the distress people were feeling. The start and middle part of the movie was the best imo, had all the backrooms vibes you could ask for! Overall a great movie and visually pleasing, just a little bit sad about the way the plop felt unfinished and half made. Though it was still awesome to watch. Would really recommend tho!!
Fantastic settings. A good story that leaves you with a feeling of incompleteness. The acting is one of the best things about the film; the chosen cast makes the events they experience feel real. If you haven't seen the series beforehand, you'll be a little lost, which can affect viewers who are new to this genre.
Horror/Suspense: 7
Story: 7
Ending: 5
Plot Twist: 6
Visual Effects: 9.5
Acting: 8
Characters: 8
Pacing: 6.5
Atmosphere: 9
Cinematography: 10.
I will start this by saying I went into this with absolutely zero knowledge of what the Backrooms even were. This was a very interesting movie that beat my expectations. I was not expecting much because I had gotten mixed reviews from friends. Some said it was really good and some said it was not that good.
I was not bored at all watching this but it could be a little better.
Pros:
Next to no gore (could be perceived as a con)
Heavy suspense
Powerful feeling of dread with the unknown
You feel like you are in the film
Once it gets going it keeps going for a good stretch
Cons:
Slow movie (takes a bit to ramp up)
Momentum will randomly halt
Very confusing between camera picked up and the kitchen scene (when you watch it you will know exactly what I mean)
Low character development for anyone besides the main 2
Ending was incredibly confusing and falls flat as a result
There will definitely be a sequel to this movie and I think they did plenty of setup for it so we will have much more interesting characters.
We already know the plot isn't a masterpiece, but that's not really the point. In fact, the main focus isn't the characters or even the monster it's the place itself. The rooms, the hallways, the endless corners. That's where the essence of the movie lies.
For me, they absolutely nailed the feeling of discomfort and liminal space. However, I still feel like something is missing. It doesn't capture that indescribable nostalgia or false nostalgia that liminal space photos and videos on the internet usually create. I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but while the movie succeeds at making you uncomfortable, it never fully reaches that melancholic feeling so strongly associated with the backrooms.
As an extra criticism, I also think it needed more iconic environments. The poolrooms, which I was most excited to see, barely appeared at all. I also would've liked to see an outdoor empty field or some kind of open space that felt completely out of place.
Even so, I really liked the movie. I'd definitely recommend it to people who already know what the backrooms are or understand the internet mythology behind them. But I'm not sure an older adult with no knowledge of the concept would really get the appeal - they might just see it as an empty movie.
Still, I found it very entertaining, and it kept me uncomfortable and tense throughout the entire film. Great ending.
I believe the movie was great; blending thrilling sound tracks, scary scenes, while also having a very detailed and interesting layout. Several parts of the movie are left open ended, while some people dislike this, I believe it allows for enhanced inference and interpretation, allowing the view to create their own version of the movie.
While yes, I mentioned it being complex, I also believe it's very watchable and understandable for someone seeking a good nerve wracking film.
Top tips:
• The backrooms are a separate entity shaping itself, this influences it's layout, entities and the layout of the movie.
• Do not rely solely on expectations, this movie is an adaptation and interpretation like any good movie is.
Rating:
Fear factor: 7.6/10
Tension: 8.8/10
Interest: 8.9/10
Complexity: 8/10
Understandability: 7.5/10.
It's a good movie.
Lot of good jump scares. Interesting and suspenseful plot. Good acting and writing.
It's tough to wrap up a creative movie like this but a good enough job was done to bring it over the finish line at 7/10.
I'd like to see it again, so that alone has value.
A little bit of gore but not too much. And will definitely give you nightmares.
I recommend this movie.
Backrooms delivers exactly what it promises. It may not be the best horror film in the genre right now, but it is very well executed. For such a young director, this is an impressive project built from the foundations of a homemade YouTube series.
The atmosphere is outstanding. It constantly keeps you wondering what might be waiting around the next corner, behind the next door, or at the end of another endless hallway. The strongest aspect of the film is its use of found-footage sequences. Incorporating that format adds a great deal to the experience, making you feel involved in the story rather than simply watching it unfold.
Solid, intriguing, and consistently engaging. The ending is a little strange, but not enough to take away from the excellent work on display. I look forward to seeing what this emerging director does next.