MOVIE REVIEW | Backrooms – The viral phenomenon that helped redefine internet horror has finally made its way to the big screen with BACKROOMS, directed by Kane Parsons — and while it absolutely delivers on atmosphere and dread, it may leave audiences walking out with more questions than answers.
Based on Parsons’ original online creation, the film begins with a simple but unsettling premise: a strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom. From there, BACKROOMS descends into something far more ambitious than a straightforward horror film.
On the surface, audiences expecting sci-fi horror and spine-chilling tension will absolutely find it. The film is packed with eerie imagery, unsettling sound design and moments that genuinely crawl under your skin. Parsons proves he understands how to create discomfort, often using silence, empty spaces and distorted reality far more effectively than traditional jump scares.
But beneath the horror lies something much stranger.
BACKROOMS quickly transforms into a deeply interpretive experience — one that constantly blurs the line between reality, dreams, hallucinations and metaphor. At various points, the film feels like a commentary on trauma, loneliness, emotional entrapment, the monotony of everyday life and the fear of being stuck in something inescapable. The challenge is that none of these themes are presented clearly or directly.
Instead, viewers are left to draw their own conclusions.
And that will either be the film’s greatest strength or its biggest weakness.
There is undeniably a deeper purpose behind what Parsons is trying to say, but the meaning is so abstract that audiences may struggle to connect the dots while actually watching the film. In fact, BACKROOMS becomes so intentionally ambiguous that understanding the director’s full vision almost requires post-movie research and discussion.
Even then, interpretations vary wildly.
One review may describe the film as an allegory for trauma, while another sees it as existential commentary on modern life. Others may simply view it as a surreal nightmare with no definitive meaning at all. That open-endedness will fascinate some viewers, while frustrating others.
For horror fans simply wanting a scary, unsettling cinema experience, the film succeeds. The atmosphere is oppressive, unnerving and often genuinely terrifying. But audiences searching for emotional clarity or a concrete explanation may find themselves overwhelmed by just how many directions the story can be interpreted.
At times, it feels as though the film overreaches in its ambition. There’s a fine line between thought-provoking and overly confusing, and BACKROOMS occasionally crosses it. The mystery becomes so layered and abstract that the emotional impact can get lost underneath the symbolism.
Still, there’s no denying the film stays with you.
Whether you love it, hate it or spend hours trying to figure out what it all meant, BACKROOMS sparks conversation in a way few horror films manage. It’s eerie, unsettling and undeniably memorable — even if its meaning remains trapped somewhere deep within its endless corridors.
Rating
Aaron: 7 / 10 “BACKROOMS succeeds as a chilling, thought-provoking horror experience, even if its heavy ambiguity occasionally overwhelms the story.
Zak: 4 / 10 “BACKROOMS delivers unsettling horror, but its overwhelming ambiguity makes it frustratingly confusing..”
Synopsis
A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom.
Watch the first teaser for BACKROOMS, a film by Kane Parsons whose original upload redefined the landscape of horror for a new generation.
Starring Academy Award nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve.
DIRECTED BY: Kane Parsons
WRITTEN BY: Will Soodik
PRODUCED BY: James Wan, Michael Clear, Roberto Patino, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, Osgood Perkins, Chris Ferguson, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Kori Adelson
STARRING: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell
SYNOPSIS: A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom.
Backrooms – in cinemas 28 May, 2026
Cinema Experience:
Tucked away between Northbridge and Leederville, The Backlot Perth offers a boutique cinema experience that feels intimate, stylish and refreshingly different from the major chains. The venue’s lounge atmosphere, bar area and unique design make it a fantastic option for small movie screenings, private functions and media events.
The cinema itself is quaint and cosy, creating a more personal viewing experience, particularly for smaller crowds. However, due to the compact layout, seating in the first couple of rows can feel extremely close to the screen, and a little more distance would improve comfort significantly. While the lack of ice cream during the visit was a minor disappointment, the overall charm and uniqueness of the venue still shine through.
For boutique screenings and special events, The Backlot delivers a memorable and distinctive cinema experience in Perth.
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MOVIE REVIEW | Backrooms
