Backrooms, a film written and directed by Cain Parsons, is a screen adaptation of his YouTube series lore which itself was based on a viral “creepypasta.” What are “creepypastas?” According to Wikipedia “Creepypastas are short, user-generated horror stories and urban legends copied, pasted, and shared across the internet.” Cain Parsons delivers a uniquely surreal, disturbing, and potentially frustrating experience at the movies.
How’s the story?
Admittedly I watched the movie without any prior knowledge of Cain Parsons’s Backrooms YouTube series. Nor did I have a clue what “creepypasta” meant at the time. I can report that the majority of the audience in the theater were teenagers and twenty somethings who had prior knowledge of Cain Parsons’s work. From the opening scene onward, they openly cheered at moments in the film which left us tiny minority of uninformed viewers perplexed.
The film opens with an intriguing piece of “found footage.” A man in a hazmat-style suit—typically worn to guard against infection—moves hurriedly through a labyrinth of backrooms, documenting his journey with a handheld video camera. Little is revealed about his purpose, though there are hints that he’s part of an investigative team. With each turn, the tension steadily mounts as he encounters increasingly bizarre and unsettling sights.
Time passes, and we’re introduced to Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a down-on-his-luck furniture store owner, and Mary (Renate Reinsve), his therapist. When Clark discovers a secret doorway leading to a vast expanse of backrooms, he becomes obsessed with exploring it. After he mysteriously disappears, Mary retraces his steps and ventures into the unknown in a desperate attempt to rescue him.
Although considered a horror movie, the narrative is not particularly scary. It leans heavily on making audiences uncomfortable. In addition, the acting performances, particularly by Chiwetel Ejiofor, were stellar.
How are the special effects?
The budget for the film was reportedly 10 million dollars. Given the relatively small cast, I’d speculate a healthy percentage was spent on visual effects. The set design team successfully accomplished building practical sets to create the bizarre world of the backrooms.
Final thoughts
Cain Parsons, much like fellow YouTube creator-turned-filmmaker Curry Barker (Obsession), was embraced by Hollywood in part because he brought with him a built-in audience of millions, significantly reducing the financial risk. It’s a level of certainty few emerging filmmakers can provide. Given the success of Backrooms and Obsession, it’s clear the landscape is evolving, with a new generation of filmmakers leveraging online platforms as a launchpad to mainstream opportunities.
Overall Grade: B
Recommended for ages 16 and up.
Pros: Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, almost singlehandedly elevates the film with his amazing performance.
Cons: The movie will frustrate those without prior knowledge of the Backrooms lore.
Backrooms official movie trailer
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