backrooms

A24 Invites You To Explore The Backrooms May 29

As the 21st century version of the campfire story, the creepypasta has given horror fans a means of crowdsourcing their own frights…but it’s difficult to translate this experience into traditional media. Sometimes it works — Channel Zero is considered a brilliant adaption of Kris Straub’s Candle Cove — but other times it doesn’t; see the attempts to make a slasher movie star out of Slenderman.

Backrooms, A24’s latest chiller, is based on a series of web videos created by Kane Parsons, aka “Kane Pixels” as he’s better known. In the videos, someone finds an empty series of liminal spaces behind an office that just go on and on, and as they venture further the rooms get creepier. A24’s adaption takes that basic idea and…sure makes it yellow.

It’s fine for a series of shorts, but can you really stand staring at spare chartreuse walls for over 90 minutes of time? There’s nothing truly spooky that happens in the trailer, just a lot of scenes where people explore the backrooms to see where they lead. Details you’d expect to see in storage spaces like this, like piles of chairs and spare tables, get less organized and more random as the hallways get deeper. There’s no music either, just a “BRAUMMMMMM” noise and one piano key, which repeats constantly at a steady rhythm throughout all the scenes.

They decide to film their ventures with a standard-definition camcorder, and one of the clips dates a video at “6/29/1990,” making this a period piece…which is interesting because Kane — who also directed this movie — is just 20 years old and has no memory of the 1990s. We’ll see what he gets right!

Surely there’s some kind of monster ahead? I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m not unnerved as much as this trailer wants me to be. Woo, it’s another wall! We’ll see if things get scary or just plain weird when Backrooms opens in theaters May 29.

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M
MalMars

Member

107 messages 0 likes

The Backrooms have such an eerie and fascinating concept, and I love how they tap into that feeling of being lost in a surreal space. It reminds me of the unsettling atmosphere in films like "The Lighthouse" where the setting itself becomes a character. A24 has a knack for creating that kind of unsettling tension which could really bring the Backrooms to life. Iโ€™m curious about how theyโ€™ll visually interpret the endless maze of yellow walls and flickering lights. Do you think theyโ€™ll focus more on psychological horror, or lean into jump scares?

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Avatar of Sunbeamcheer
Sunbeamcheer

New Member

22 messages 3 likes

Sometimes just empty spaces can feel uncomfortable, especially if they look endless and confusing. I watched some of Kane Pixels videos before, and they made me feel lost in a strange way. That feeling stayed with me longer than normal horror scenes. I think the movie might be slow, but I am okay with that if it builds tension well. The yellow walls and quiet sound design might be the point, not a weakness. I do agree that it could get boring if nothing changes, but I am willing to give it a chance. Not every horror film needs to be fast or full of action.

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Avatar of Toto_Tornado
Toto_Tornado

Storm Chaser

76 messages 0 likes

I think people are judging this too early. The trailer looks very controlled and minimal, but that could mean the movie is saving its best parts. I respect that the director is young and still got a chance to make a film like this. That alone makes me curious. The 1990 setting is also interesting because it gives a reason for the camera style. I do not expect it to be perfect, but I like when filmmakers try something different instead of copying the same horror formula. Even if it fails, at least it is not predictable. I will watch it because I want to see how far they push this idea.

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Avatar of Eddie Balrog
Eddie Balrog

Future Evo Champion

799 messages 19 likes

I am actually excited for this. I have been following Kane Pixels for a while, and I think he understands this concept better than most people. His videos are simple, but they create a strong feeling of isolation. I do not need a monster every few minutes. Sometimes the fear comes from not knowing what is coming next. The trailer looks quiet and slow, but that is what I expect from Backrooms. I think it will focus more on atmosphere than action. That might not be for everyone, but I enjoy that type of horror. I will definitely watch it on release.

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Avatar of Carly
Carly

Hey I just met you!

961 messages 498 likes

I feel like the trailer is not showing enough to judge the movie. It is very basic and slow, but maybe that is intentional. I do agree that watching the same type of rooms can get tiring. Still, I think the idea has potential if they add some kind of progression. Maybe the deeper they go, the more strange things appear. Right now, it just looks like walking and filming. I need more than that, but I am still interested to see how it turns out.

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Avatar of VINCE'S CHOICE
VINCE'S CHOICE

Most eligible villlain

148 messages 12 likes

I think the criticism about the yellow walls is a bit unfair. The Backrooms are supposed to look like that. It is part of the concept. If they change it too much, it might not feel like Backrooms anymore. I understand the concern about repetition, but I think the mood is more important here. The sound design and camera style seem very intentional. I am more curious about how the characters react to being there. That will decide if the movie feels real or not.

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Avatar of Ginger Snaps
Ginger Snaps

Member

471 messages 12 likes

I am probably not the target audience for this. I prefer horror movies with clear threats and more action. This feels too quiet and slow for me. The trailer did not give me any strong reason to watch it. I respect the effort and the idea, but I think I will skip it unless I hear very positive feedback. Maybe it will work for people who like experimental films, but I need something more direct to stay interested.

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Avatar of ะกั‚ะฐัSkani
ะกั‚ะฐัSkani

Member

554 messages 7 likes

I think the idea is strong, but I worry about pacing. When I watched the original videos, they worked because they were short and focused. Here, the trailer feels stretched already. I do like the choice to keep the sound simple. It makes the space feel empty in a realistic way. Still, I need some kind of progression. If the characters just keep walking and reacting the same way, I might lose interest. I am not asking for constant action, but I want a reason to keep watching. Maybe the film will reveal layers slowly. If that happens, it could be effective. If not, it might feel like a loop.

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Van Nuys Guy

New Member

14 messages 0 likes

I am confused about the time setting. If it takes place in 1990, I hope they really commit to it. The camera style is a good start, but I want more details that match that period. Small things like clothing, behavior, and how people talk can make a difference. The trailer does not show much of that yet. I am interested in how a young director handles this. It could feel authentic, or it could feel off. That part makes me curious more than the horror itself.

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