Backrooms is written and directed by Kane Parsons, with producer Osgood Perkins, known for Longlegs and The Monkey. Parsons gained attention through the original web series, but this adaptation shifts heavily away from pure horror and toward character-focused storytelling. The problem is that much of the audience is likely coming in wanting unsettling imagery, tension, and scares rather than extended emotional exploration. The film certainly captures an eerie atmosphere and the endless liminal spaces remain creepy, but it rarely escalates into anything genuinely terrifying.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, known for 12 Years a Slave and Doctor Strange, initially appears positioned as the film’s central figure. He brings his usual gravitas and instantly feels like the strongest actor in the movie. However, the story eventually pivots away from him in a bait-and-switch that leaves the film feeling less anchored once the focus changes.
Renate Reinsve, known for The Worst Person in the World and Sentimental Value, takes over much of the emotional weight of the film. While she is clearly talented, the performance here never fully lands in the way the material needs. Compared to some of her stronger previous work, this role feels more muted and less convincing, making it difficult to stay fully invested in the character-driven sections the film prioritizes.
The biggest issue is that the movie seems far more interested in presenting itself as elevated art than delivering the horror experience many viewers expect from the premise. The atmosphere works, and there are moments where the tension almost clicks into place, but the film consistently pulls away from genuine fear. Even the main creature or “big bad” ends up coming across as unintentionally funny more often than threatening.
Overall, Backrooms is a decent looking film with strong atmosphere and an interesting concept, but it struggles to balance artistic ambition with audience expectations. It succeeds at being creepy in short bursts, yet fails to deliver the memorable scares that could have made it truly stand out. Backrooms ends up feeling more intriguing than effective. Result: C+
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