BACKROOMS (2026)

Based upon the viral online phenomenon which he helped launch, YouTube creator Kane Parsons has directed this somewhat expiremental horror thriller focusing on an unique realm containing a never-ending series of strange rooms and corridors.  The story focuses on a troubled recent divorcee (Oscar-nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) who owns a failing furniture store which contains a hidden door to this realm.  Once he enters, he begins exploring this realm and becomes obssessed with figuring it.  Oscar-nominee Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value, The Worst Person In the World) plays his troubled therapist who also eventually investigates....and liminal horror ensues!  

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

BACKROOMS - 2026

Directed by Kane Parsons

Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, and Mark Duplass

Genre: Experimental Horror (Audio clip)

I really enjoyed this. I found it gripping, sad, imaginative, and ultimately satisfying. I have a strong feeling that the a lot of folks who pay to see it will not enjoy it....they will hear the buzz about it being a horror movie based upon a viral YouTube series and from that standpoint, they might leave disappointed. For me, it's all about expectations: this is a big-screen adaptation (or continuation) of a series of YouTube videos which really don't have an overall through-line nor any major characters to follow. I haven't seen all of those videos so MAYBE I was missing something...I didn't watch them in any particular order either. But the general impression I received from watching these videos was they were all aiming for semi-familiar, unsettling VIBE. 

The premise is straightforward: searching through a seemingly endless series of rooms and corridors which only make less sense the further you go.....and with the periodic scare of SOMETHING pursuing you. You can't really quite make it out but you KNOW it's not human and it sounds f@#king scary! 😅 Take that basic overall concept, stitch it together into a somewhat bottled story which lasts about 110 minutes and mainly focuses on two characters played by two top-flight Oscar-nominated actors. See it a dark theater with good sound, remind yourself that this was based on an open-ended narrative with no resolution AND that it was released by A24....and you'll be much more likely to have a good time as I did. ;) 

Now was I conventionally SCARED? Hard to say as I didn't often feel particularly frightened for the safety of any character on-screen...nor do I think I was meant to. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave, The Martian, Inside Man) plays Clark who is a troubled, recent divorcee with a drinking problem who runs a failing, half-empty furniture store somewhere in a relatively desolate area of Southern California. One evening, he discovers a sorta-hidden door on the lower level of his store which leads to.....you guessed it, those titular "backrooms." Once he starts exploring them, he becomes increasingly fixated on figuring them out....

Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value, A Different Man, The Worst Person In The World) plays Mary, a troubled semi-famous therapist (she has published a self-help novel which seems widely promoted) who is seeing Clark as one of her patients. Their relationship beyond doctor/patient SEEMS deeper than that though I was never quite clear. But regardless THEY are the two main characters we are following through this story, neither is presented as particularly sympathetic, they both go through a pretty unique experience, and I'll leave it at that! :) 

Beyond that, Ejiofor and Reinsve deliver excellent performances even with relatively little depth provided by the screenplay from Will Soodick (Homeland, Westworld)....which is ok because this just ISN'T that type of movie. This isn't about character arcs, it's about the EXPERIENCE channeled through the characters - in that way it's more akin an Ari Aster horror film (Midsommar, Hereditary)....just significantly shorter and with less gratuitous gore. 😉 And honestly at the end of the day, the true stars are likely first-time director/YouTube creator Kane Parsons who does a solid job of adapting this premise into a feature length narrative AND…. production designer Danny Vermette, I’ll get back to him in just a bit.

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film):

As you would expect from such a barebones story, this film DOES have a pretty distinctive score which helps to maintain the overall unsettling vibe….and it ‘s composed by the director himself Kane Parsons along with a regular composer for Osgood Perkin’s recent films, Edo Van Brennan.  Together they collaborate on creating a musical soundscape for this film which is much more atmospheric than melodic – it sounds as if it’s done mostly on synthesizers and whenever necessary, it DOES ramp up to become increasingly percussive whenever the tension needs to ramp up. (Audio clip) 

However….as I’m prone to do, I am ALWAYS a sucker for a kick-ass electronic song to close out a movie and we hear a VERY catchy one over the closing credits.  And it comes to us from an electronic music duo from Moray, Scotland….here I was assuming that they were new but nope these two brothers – Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin – have been doing this since 1986 apparently, I’m referring to Boards of Canada…that’s their name.  And the track we hear over the closing credits comes from their just released fifth album, “Inferno” – definitely worth checking out, I REALLY like their sound as it kind of reminds me of The Orb from ‘90’s or Kraftwerk from the ‘70’s.  The song is the undeniably abstract yet catchy, “The Word Becomes Flesh.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

Considering the scale of this film, the amorphous “source material” which it’s based on, the relatively light filmmaking experience of the director (Kane Parsons was only TWENTY when directing this…..impressive), and what it was trying to accomplish….I actually don’t think any talent was wasted in the making of this film.  And apparently this film is already on its ways towards being a MASSIVE success too…..it will probably end up being the highest grossing film ever released by A24 during it’s 14 year history, very exciting and good for them!  My main concern I guess would be how not only A24 but Hollywood in general responds to the surprising success of this film…..hmmm….here’s hoping that they don’t learn some of the wrong lessons.  And that would include the desire to start cranking out yearly sequels like they did back in the ‘00’s with horror breakouts like Paranormal Activity, Saw, and Final Destination.  Not saying that there’s not the (literal) space to explore this world further…..but on a cinematic level, I hope they let this one breathe a bit.

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

Tough call here as I would say most of this film’s runtime probably ends up comprised of pretty much THREE EXTENDED sequences….but if I had to choose one standout for just sheer visual invention along with genuine tension, it probably be about an hour into the film…..during one of Clark’s extended excursions into the titular “backrooms.”  I don’t want to spoil too much as this just came out but probably one of the FEW intentionally funny lines in the movie occurs when Clark brings his two employees along with him to…”do research” as they also possesses a video camera, I’m referring to Bobby played by Finn Bennett and Kat played by Lukita Maxwell.  They both do a nice job….anyways as they’re entering this realm, he tries to reassure them them that this place is worth entering because…..I’m paraphrasing here, “Hey you know they have a POOL in here!”  Sure!  Well….a bit later in this section, Clark finds himself now desperately running through these rooms when he suddenly ENCOUNTERS…..SAID pool.  And yeah, there’s not much fun to be had there….and I’ll just leave it at that.   

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):

MAJOR props to Kane Parsons for what he has pulled off here – this kid was pretty much self-taught and crafted what I believe is a relatively strong film utilizing limited resources and more imagination than anything else. That said, I have to give this award to the MAIN proprietor of said imagination which truly carries this film.  And that would be the aforementioned Production Designer.  Mr. Vermette has also worked on these recent Osgood Perkins horror films (Longlegs, Keeper) which I keep hearing about but have yet to see. What he has done with the layout, the design, and the (often yellow) color schemes of these "rooms" is truly next-level....it's all so bland and random and unnerving to venture through. The fake windows, sections of gawdy furniture, uncomfortably carpeted floor gaps, indeterminable stains on walls and floors....he has basically crafted the Neverending Business Park/Hotel Meeting Area From Hell. 😳 And it hooked me in – for delivering what I believe is truly Oscar-caliber production design, Danny Vermette is the MVP. 

Final Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Overall, this adds up to a unique cinematic experience which I will not soon forget even though it will definitely be an acquired taste for many others.  And even though I DID actually watch several “backrooms” videos in the lead-up to seeing this in theaters, I would definitely NOT say that they are required homework for enjoying this film.

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And that ends another LIMINAL SPACE review!