"Backrooms" Movie Review: From Viral YouTube Series to a 110-Minute of Big-Screen Psychological Terror

Based on YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Kane Parsons' semi-anthological web series, Backrooms brings liminal space horror to the big screen.

Gist:

Set in the 1990s, failed architect Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is beginning to realize that he has not yet hit rock bottom. His life continues to spiral downward after a recent divorce forces him to move into his pirate-themed furniture store, Cap'n Clark's Ottoman Empire, in Santa Clarita.

The only semblance of stability comes from his therapy sessions with Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve), who constantly challenges him to confront his toxic behavior and troubled past with alcohol. Meanwhile, Clark spends his days dressing up as a pirate and filming TV commercials with his only employees, Bobby (Finn Bennett) and Kat (Lukita Maxwell)—a situation that somehow isn't the most embarrassing thing happening in his life.

Everything changes when Clark discovers a mysterious portal beneath his store. Initially believed to be the cause of unexplained power outages, the portal leads him to the titular Backrooms—an endless, yellow-tinted dimension resembling a maze of office spaces filled with strange anomalies.

After "no-clipping" into this bizarre realm, Clark undergoes a dramatic personality shift. More focused and determined than ever, he becomes obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the Backrooms. What he doesn't realize is that his fixation is about to drag the few remaining people in his life into a terrifying and dangerous mystery.

The film quickly becomes strange, unsettling, and intense. Depending on your tolerance for psychological horror, the experience may be fascinating, overwhelming, or even exhausting.

Some viewers may find certain scenes confusing, while the pacing occasionally feels slow. However, the film's greatest strengths lie in its cinematography, sound and production design. The eerie atmosphere created by endless hallways, fluorescent lighting, and unsettling ambient sounds effectively captures the feeling of being trapped in an impossible space.

Produced by A24 and exclusively distributed in the Philippines by CreaZion International Studios, Backrooms stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, Avan Jogia, and Robert Bobroczkyi. Directed by Kane Parsons, the film opens in theaters nationwide on June 3, 2026.

In Summary,

If you're claustrophobic, this movie may not be for you.

If you can handle a healthy dose of stress, anxiety, and psychological tension, give it a watch.

If you're looking for a horror film with deep themes and complex storytelling, this may fall short of your expectations.

If you enjoyed The Blair Witch Project, this movie is likely to satisfy your horror cravings.