Oct. 12, 2026 by Parker Hinkle (‘27)
Synopsis:
Backrooms (2026) is a psychological horror film, written and directed by Kane Parsons. Loosely based on a YouTube series under the same name. It follows Clark (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) as a failed architect and now turned furniture salesman when he finds and explores a secret, endless area inside of the basement of his store. He slowly becomes crazy exploring this space and goes missing, leaving for his therapist, Mary (played by Renate Reinsve) to find him and join him in this mysterious uncanny labyrinth, called the backrooms.
Review:
Watching Backrooms feels like you’re in a dream. You remember different people and places, but nothing feels quite right. There’s no detail, no specific characteristics that would be close to what you’re thinking of, only a generalized idea of that face of that person or that structure of that room.
Yet, you subconsciously understand who or what it is you’re dreaming about. As the film puts it, “Imagine describing a dog to someone who’s never seen one before and then asking them to draw it. It will look similar, but the devils in the details.”
This is one I’ve been waiting to watch for a while. I asked around beforehand to see what the general thoughts of the film were, and I definitely got some mixed reactions. Some said they liked it; some said they didn’t, while others felt like they enjoyed it initially but slowly it fell out of favor as they sat with it more and more. Going into it knowing this, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, after watching the film I can say that I really enjoyed it, and I understand why it was so polarizing for many.
The way that Backrooms tells its story is very experimental and mysterious. It gives you disturbing scenes and makes you sit with them without any real explanation. I like how it challenges the viewer to come to their own conclusions about what happened, as this really makes it go back to the dream idea.
Like in a dream, you wake up and have to put the pieces together. I see why this would make some like this film less, but personally I revel in this type of movie. It reminds me of the work of artist and filmmaker David Lynch, and his whole idea of letting the watcher make their own conclusion of whatever they just watched. This also makes sense considering that the director, Kane Parsons, said that David Lynch partially inspired him when he made the film.
Additionally, every shot of this film was extremely beautiful. Each scene and set is made to give you this uncanny feeling and nails it completely. Not only do you get this feeling when the film takes you inside of the backrooms, but also inside of places in the real world setting. This is felt especially inside of Clark’s furniture store, and there is an attentiveness to detail that you just have to appreciate. From the lighting and ambiance of the store, down to the way the furniture is placed, you get this sense that something is off. This is also highlighted in the way the film is colored. The outside world is brightly colored in contrast to the backrooms that have a yellow-colored tint. These sets allow for the actors to give great and unsettling performances. Clark and Mary feel like real people with extreme flaws, and the actors do a wonderful job of conveying that through the screen.
Overall, Backrooms was a very interesting watch that has stayed with me for the past few days since I initially saw it. It is one I would recommend if you are a fan of horror or are just looking for something to really make you guess. I rate Backrooms (2026) a 4/5 stars.