BACKROOMS (2026) Review: A24's Liminal Horror Nightmare Is One of the Year's Most Unforgettable Films

Few internet horror concepts have captured the imagination of an entire generation quite like The Backrooms. What began as a simple image of endless yellow hallways evolved into a massive online phenomenon, spawning countless theories, videos, and nightmares. Now, filmmaker Kane Parsons brings the concept to the big screen with Backrooms (2026), an ambitious horror film that transforms internet folklore into a genuinely cinematic experience.

Story & Screenplay

The story follows Clark, a struggling furniture store owner whose life begins to unravel after discovering a mysterious passage leading into an endless labyrinth beneath reality itself. As the boundaries between memory, trauma, and existence blur, Clark and those around him become trapped inside a nightmare where logic no longer applies.

Rather than focusing on conventional horror storytelling, Backrooms leans heavily into mystery and atmosphere. The film asks more questions than it answers, creating an experience that feels closer to a surreal dream than a traditional horror movie. Some viewers will find this approach fascinating, while others may be frustrated by its refusal to explain everything.

Performances

Chiwetel Ejiofor anchors the film with a compelling performance as Clark, bringing emotional weight to a story that could have easily become lost in its visual spectacle. Renate Reinsve also shines, delivering a nuanced performance that adds depth to the film's psychological themes.

The supporting cast serves the narrative well, but this is ultimately a film where the setting itself becomes the true star.

Direction & Atmosphere

At just twenty years old, director Kane Parsons demonstrates remarkable confidence behind the camera. Every frame is designed to create unease, from the endless fluorescent hallways to the impossible architecture that seems to shift and mutate around the characters.

The film's greatest strength is its atmosphere. The Backrooms feel genuinely alien despite being constructed from familiar spaces. Empty offices, abandoned corridors, and distorted rooms become sources of overwhelming dread. Rather than relying on constant jump scares, the movie slowly burrows under your skin through tension and uncertainty.

The visual effects are surprisingly impressive, helping bring the impossible geometry of the Backrooms to life without sacrificing realism. Combined with a haunting sound design, the result is one of the most immersive horror experiences of recent years.

What Works

• Exceptional atmosphere and world-building.
• Strong lead performances.
• Unique visual style unlike most modern horror films.
• Masterful use of tension and psychological dread.
• Faithful expansion of the original internet phenomenon.

What Doesn't Work

• The narrative can feel abstract and difficult to follow.
• Some viewers may find the pacing slow.
• Certain mysteries remain intentionally unresolved.
• The emotional connection occasionally takes a backseat to atmosphere.

Final Verdict

Backrooms (2026) is not a horror film for everyone, but it is exactly the kind of ambitious, original filmmaking the genre needs more of. Kane Parsons successfully transforms a viral internet concept into a haunting feature-length nightmare that feels both familiar and completely unique.

While the story occasionally struggles beneath the weight of its own mysteries, the film's atmosphere, visuals, and unsettling sense of dread make it one of the most memorable horror releases of the year. For fans of psychological horror, surreal storytelling, and liminal-space nightmares, Backrooms is absolutely worth getting lost in.