YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Kane Parsons has released his feature film Backrooms, an adaptation of his viral video series that has become a cult hit on YouTube. The film, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, and Mark Duplass, is originally based on a 4chan forum post that evolved into an urban legend about a man trapped in an unsettling, labyrinthine office space.
Critical Reception
Critical reception for Backrooms has been largely positive. The film currently holds a 79 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 out of 100 on Metacritic, praised for its atmospheric horror, visual style, and disturbing conceptual elements.
Positive Reviews
The Independent's Clarisse Loughrey wrote in her four-star review that the film was “mesmeric and wildly unique in a way I suspect will stand the test of time.” Meanwhile, The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw called it an “icily brilliant and genuinely disturbing conceptual horror film.”
Mixed Reviews
The Associated Press's Jake Coyle wasn’t as praiseworthy, complaining that “a movie with so many doors ultimately can't find the right one.” In Empire, Jamie Graham noted that the film “is sure to spark endless debate and interpretations among those who aren’t bored silly by it.”
Overall, Backrooms has sparked considerable discussion among critics, with many highlighting its innovative approach to horror and its roots in internet culture.
