Why Backrooms is not your “usual horror movie” as viral hit goes from YouTube to the cinema

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The horror film Backrooms hits theaters this Friday and aims to be the next big box office success, following films like Obsession. Early predictions suggest it could open with at least $20 million in the US, which might seem high for a horror movie – unless you know about the popular online phenomenon that inspired it.

The new film is the first feature directed by Kane Parsons, who became popular on YouTube with his Backrooms series. This series was inspired by a creepy online story that originally appeared on the 4chan website. If you’re not familiar with any of that, we’ve included an explanation to help you understand.

The film Backrooms follows Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a furniture store owner, who finds a mysterious door in his basement that opens into a bizarre, otherworldly space. Interestingly, the movie was a similarly new experience for the actor himself, just as it is for his character.

Ejiofor admitted he wasn’t familiar with the Backrooms at first. He’d heard a little about the online interest in liminal spaces, but a friend sent him information about Kane’s work and the world he’d built. He shared this during a Q&A after the film’s premiere at Beyond Fest.

What really captivated me about Kane’s work was the incredible detail and richness of the world he created. The sheer imagination behind it was truly impressive.

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The best part of working with a director is collaborating with someone who truly understands the world they’re building. That was especially true with Kane. He wasn’t just involved in creating that world – he knew it inside and out, every single detail. As an actor, it was incredibly enjoyable and challenging to explore that world and try to see things from his point of view.

As a gamer, what really grabbed me about this was how deep the character’s story was. He’s seriously messed up, trying to figure things out, and constantly questioning what’s even real. The way that all tied into the unsettling vibe of The Backrooms was super cool and kept me totally hooked. It felt really impactful and I was instantly invested.

Renate Reinsve, who plays Dr. Mary Kline – the therapist drawn into the unusual events – was familiar with the concept of the Backrooms, but she didn’t realize the videos she was watching were made by the film’s creator, Parsons. Unlike her co-star, she had some prior knowledge of the story’s setting.

I was a bit doubtful when Kane first contacted me, especially considering how unique and specific that world was – turning it into a movie seemed like a big challenge,” she remembered.

What really got me interested was our first conversation. He talked about his vision with so much respect for the creative process – wanting to build a specific mood and atmosphere, rather than just a typical, plot-heavy horror film. He wanted something unique, and that really appealed to me.

That conversation left me feeling drained, but also really motivated. We covered a lot of complex topics, like quantum physics, in just an hour and a half, and it ultimately confirmed I wanted to pursue this further.

The character’s struggle to find her own way, while constantly trying to fix things for others, created a compelling internal conflict. She wasn’t able to escape her own problems, and ended up trapped in a cycle of both external and personal difficulties, which added a fascinating philosophical dimension to the story.

Backrooms is released in cinemas on 29 May.

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2026-05-26 14:21