Backrooms review: The scariest movie since Weapons
A24’s Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, brings the viral “Backrooms” creepypasta to the big screen. The film expands upon Parsons’ YouTube shorts series, which have accumulated over 78 million views. The concept centers on empty rooms featuring yellow wallpaper and fluorescent lighting—a deceptively simple setting that creates an intensely unsettling atmosphere.
Despite the minimalist premise, the film proves remarkably effective at generating dread. Critics note that the expansion successfully translates the creepy appeal of the short-form videos into a full-length horror experience. The review describes the film as both unnerving and haunting, suggesting it manages to maintain tension throughout. In an entertainment landscape often dominated by spectacle-heavy productions, Backrooms stands out for its ability to create genuine scares through atmosphere rather than explosive set pieces.
The film appeals to both dedicated fans of the Backrooms mythos and newcomers unfamiliar with the creepypasta. For those encountering the concept for the first time, the film efficiently establishes why simple, mundane spaces can become sources of profound psychological horror. The success of the adaptation demonstrates the cultural staying power of internet-born horror narratives and their potential to reach mainstream audiences through theatrical releases.