Backrooms Review: Kane Parsons' Terrifying Horror Phenomenon Is As Brilliant As It Is Confounding

When Hype Creates A Different Kind Of Pressure

That kind of dilemma is perhaps the most difficult reaction to have towards a film because once you find yourself in the middle, you begin questioning everything. You start dissecting scenes, ideas and choices. You start wondering why certain things worked and why others did not. And that is exactly the feeling I was left with after watching the hugely anticipated and now widely celebrated Backrooms.

As many already know, the external story surrounding this film has been almost as fascinating as the film itself, both literally and figuratively. If you have not come across the lore behind Backrooms, that is completely understandable because it only emerged as a major internet phenomenon a few years ago. The concept itself is fascinating. The idea that walking through a wall could transport you into a strange dimension filled with endless rooms, endless hallways and seemingly endless liminal spaces with no exit and no conclusion is immediately compelling.

Add to that the remarkable story of a 20 year old YouTuber Kane Parsons turning this concept into a feature film and the intrigue grows even stronger. That achievement alone elevates the film's significance. Yet beyond the novelty and the headlines lies the real question. Does the story connect? Does the tension work? Does the experience stay with you?

A Masterclass In Atmosphere And Dread

Powered largely by phenomenal performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, the film explores some truly wild ideas. It moves through its narrative in such an unusual manner that you often find yourself confused and captivated at the same time.

The craftsmanship here is extraordinary. There is simply no denying that. Kane Parsons demonstrates a remarkable command over atmosphere. The way he creates these endless liminal spaces is astonishing. They feel vast and infinite while simultaneously feeling suffocating and claustrophobic. Every corridor, every room and every strange sound contributes to an overwhelming sense of unease.

You constantly find yourself asking questions. Is this another dimension? Is this real? Is any of this actually happening? Parsons wants you to ask those questions. In fact, the film thrives on them.

Horror Built On Uncertainty

What makes Backrooms so effective is that its horror does not primarily come from conventional scares. Yes, there are some terrific jump scares and a few genuinely inventive ones as well. But the real terror comes from unfamiliarity.

This is a world that does not operate according to the rules of traditional horror cinema. There are no predictable beats guiding you safely through the experience. That unpredictability becomes the film's greatest weapon.

You encounter endless rearrangements of furniture, bizarre interior spaces, different levels of the Backrooms and strange zombie like entities emerging from nowhere. The questions keep piling up. Who created this place? Why does it exist? Does it even exist at all?

The film's eerie atmosphere becomes so powerful that you begin forgiving certain narrative gaps simply because you are mesmerised by the experience.

Fascinating Questions, Frustrating Answers

The challenge, however, lies in how those questions are ultimately handled. There are long stretches of deliberate emptiness where Parsons wants the audience to simply sit with the tension and wonder what is happening. Sometimes this works brilliantly. Other times it creates a disconnect.

By the end, I was not looking for definitive answers. Films like this do not require everything to be explained. Mystery is part of their appeal. What I did want, however, was a conclusion that felt more emotionally complete, something that lingered in the mind for days because of its impact rather than because I was still trying to figure it out.