Backrooms Movie Review: A Chilling Leap from Internet Horror Phenomenon to the Big Screen
Read our spoiler-free review covering the film’s strengths, suspense, performances, and areas where it falls short.
Backrooms Movie Review
Backrooms Movie Review: I am a working profession in a MNC and just finished watching Backrooms and I’ll admit, I’ve only seen some of the YouTube videos here and there over the years but I was pleasantly surprised with how effective and disturbing this movie was.
Few internet-born horror concepts have captured audiences quite like the Backrooms. What started as a creepy online image and evolved into a sprawling collection of stories, videos, and theories has now made its way to the big screen. Adapting a popular internet phenomenon into a feature-length film is never an easy task, especially when much of its appeal comes from mystery, atmosphere, and imagination. Fortunately, Backrooms manages to deliver a horror experience that is both unsettling and surprisingly engaging.
As someone who had only casually followed some of the online videos over the years, I entered the theater with moderate expectations. I was familiar with the concept but far from being a dedicated follower of the lore. By the time the credits rolled, however, I found myself genuinely impressed by what the filmmakers accomplished.
One of the film’s biggest strengths is its storytelling. Rather than relying solely on internet references or fan service, the movie builds a narrative that stands on its own. The story gradually pulls viewers deeper into the strange and terrifying world of the Backrooms while maintaining enough mystery to keep audiences invested. Even viewers who know little about the online mythology should be able to follow the plot and appreciate the sense of dread that develops throughout the film.
A major reason for the film’s success is the vision behind it. Director and creator Kane Parsons continues to demonstrate remarkable talent. Considering his young age, the level of creativity and technical skill on display is impressive. The movie never feels like a simple expansion of a YouTube project. Instead, it feels like a confident step into larger-scale filmmaking while retaining the unsettling atmosphere that made the original concept so popular.
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The performances are another pleasant surprise. Horror films sometimes treat characters as little more than victims moving through scary situations, but Backrooms gives its cast room to create believable and emotionally grounded performances. The actors bring authenticity to their roles, making the fear and confusion feel real. Their reactions help sell the bizarre nature of the world around them and make the audience care about what happens next.
Visually, the movie excels at creating a sense of unease. The found-footage and digital camera sequences are particularly effective. They immerse viewers in the environment and recreate the unsettling feeling associated with online alternate reality games and internet horror projects. The camera work often makes it feel as though you are trapped inside the endless maze alongside the characters.
Perhaps the film’s greatest achievement is the way it expands the Backrooms concept. The environments are far larger and more varied than many viewers may expect. Instead of presenting endless identical hallways, the movie introduces locations that add depth and unpredictability to the experience. Each new area raises fresh questions and contributes to the growing sense of isolation and dread.
The suspense is also handled extremely well. The film understands that horror is often more effective when it builds tension rather than relying on constant scares. Several jump scares are cleverly integrated into the story and feel earned rather than cheap. Instead of interrupting the atmosphere, they enhance it and push the narrative forward.
The final act deserves special mention. Without revealing spoilers, it takes the story in directions that many viewers are unlikely to anticipate. The escalation feels ambitious and adds another layer of intrigue to the overall experience.
That said, the film is not without flaws. After a strong opening sequence, the pacing slows considerably during the first portion of the movie. While the scenes are important for character and story development, they occasionally linger longer than necessary. A tighter edit could have maintained momentum without sacrificing important details.
There are also a few moments where the visual composition feels slightly awkward. Certain camera angles seem unusually framed, creating distractions that pull attention away from the scene itself. These issues are relatively minor, but they stand out because much of the film is otherwise visually polished.
Additionally, some continuity inconsistencies may catch the attention of observant viewers. During my screening, audience members appeared to notice at least one obvious error that may become a topic of discussion among fans.
The ending is perhaps the most divisive aspect of the film. While the buildup is excellent and the tension reaches impressive heights, the conclusion feels somewhat abrupt. Ambiguous endings can be powerful when executed well, but some viewers may leave the theater wanting a little more clarity regarding the events that unfold.
Overall, Backrooms succeeds where many adaptations of internet properties struggle. It captures the unsettling atmosphere that made the concept popular while expanding it into a cinematic experience that feels fresh, ambitious, and genuinely creepy. Despite a few pacing issues and an ending that may divide audiences, the film offers enough suspense, creativity, and memorable moments to make it a worthwhile watch.
For horror fans looking for something different from traditional supernatural or slasher films, Backrooms is well worth seeing in theaters. It proves that internet horror can successfully make the jump to the big screen when handled with imagination and respect for its source material.
