From 4chan to A24: The Backrooms' Journey to a Major Horror Film
The Backrooms, a digital-era urban legend that began as a viral post on the anonymous forum 4chan, has evolved into a major motion picture from the acclaimed studio A24. This horror film, starring Oscar-winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, delves into the unsettling world of liminal spaces—those eerie, in-between places like empty offices or hallways that feel familiar yet deeply unnerving when deserted.
The Origins of a Creepypasta Phenomenon
In 2019, a user on 4chan shared a photograph of a large, sterile room with yellow carpet and fluorescent lights on a paranormal-themed board, asking others to post "disquieting images that just feel 'off.'" Another user responded by naming this imagery "Backrooms" and crafting a fictional theory to accompany it. The post described a nightmarish expanse where one could become trapped in "approximately six hundred million square miles of randomly segmented empty rooms," filled with the stench of old moist carpet and the constant hum of lights, warning of hostile creatures that might be lurking nearby.
Expansion into Internet Lore
This initial spark ignited a wave of creativity across online communities. Users on Subreddits like r/creepypasta and later r/backrooms began imagining their own stories, expanding the concept with ideas such as "levels"—different interconnected layers of the Backrooms—and "entities," the creatures inhabiting these spaces. The liminal space aesthetic, which captures the eerie feeling of transitional places, became central to this growing fandom, resonating with those fascinated by the uncanny.
From YouTube Shorts to Hollywood
The Backrooms gained further traction in early 2022 when American YouTuber Kane Parsons, known as Kane Pixels, posted a series of short films on YouTube. These videos popularized the storytelling and visual style, catching the attention of A24. At just 20 years old, Parsons is now directing the feature film, with screenplay by Ash vs. Evil Dead writer Will Soodik. The cast includes not only Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve from Sentimental Value but also actors like Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell.
Plot and Themes of the Upcoming Film
In the A24 adaptation, the Backrooms are depicted as a yellow, endless office space hidden behind the walls of an industrial retail outlet. Ejiofor's character stumbles into this expanse and becomes determined to explore its maze-like hallways. His therapist, played by Reinsve, follows him in, leading to terrifying consequences. The film draws parallels to other works like Apple's Severance or the 1997 horror film Cube, emphasizing claustrophobic and sinister settings.
Release and Cultural Impact
Scheduled for release in theaters on May 29, Backrooms has premiered a trailer with the tagline "Everything Must Go," featuring haunting lines like "Sometimes I'm scared I'll get lost" and "It's like a maze—it just goes on and on." This project highlights how niche internet memes can transcend digital spaces to influence mainstream entertainment, blending horror with psychological depth through its exploration of liminality and fear.
The journey from a simple 4chan post to a high-profile A24 film underscores the power of online storytelling and community-driven creativity in shaping contemporary culture.
