The first reviews for A24’s upcoming horror film, Backrooms, have been incredibly positive so far. This adaptation of director Kane Parson’s YouTube series is already captivating critics with its unique brand of horror that haunted the internet.
This release has undeniably been a longtime coming. Beginning as a creepypasta on 4Chan, the unsettling image of an empty string of hallways turned into one of the internet’s biggest horror stories. The concept quickly spiraled into countless video games, short stories, and short films based on it.
The most famous take on the Backrooms, though, is Kane Parson’s eerie 15-minute short on YouTube. It perfectly showed just how terrifying a liminal space can be by putting the audience in the perspective of someone trapped inside the Backrooms’ unsettling yellow glow. Since then, he’s created more shorts exploring the concept.
Now, the long-awaited adaptation of Kane Parson’s YouTube series is finally here, and it’s already taking the critical world by storm. Standing at a staggering 87%, it’s looking to be the next great scary film since Curry Barker’s disturbing horror hit, Obsession. Based on the reviews, there’s a clear consensus about why Backrooms is pleasing critics as they praise the movie’s performances, direction, and production design.
1
Backrooms’ Setting Steals The Show With Unsettling Liminal Horror
The biggest positive most critics have for Backrooms is the setting of the film itself. Many cite the film as absolutely horrifying because of how well it uses the quiet nature of the liminal space to its advantage. Alonso Duralde of The Film Verdict, for example, mentions that where Backrooms succeeds is how it “finds the terror in enclosed spaces and echoing silences.”
This is great news for fans of the YouTube series because it proves that Parson has perfectly translated not just his webseries, but the Backrooms creepypasta itself. The trailers alone have given a glimpse at how the film captures the eerie atmosphere of the lore and imagery behind the Backrooms, and these reviews show the movie itself expands on it.
2
Backrooms Is A Terrific Directorial Debut For Kane Parsons
Another consensus held by critics is that the film is beautifully directed. This is Kane Parsons’ first film after years of being a YouTube creator, and seeing his work praised out the gate is a major accomplishment.
Critics like Cris Parker of 3C Films and Nikki Baughan of Screen International praise Kane Parsons for the way that he brings the Backrooms to life. They talk about how what he’s managed to create is impressive for a first-time director for a feature film. Plus, they highlight how well he’s able to navigate audiences through the Backrooms for a horrifying experience that can’t be missed.
3
Chiwetel Ejiofor And Renate Reinsve Give Great Performances In Backrooms
Perhaps the most unsurprising praise Backrooms has received is the love being given to Oscar-nominated actress Renate Reinsve and Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. Many critics mention that they give stellar performances that highlight the hopeless aura of the Backrooms while providing much-needed layers to its subtle story.
Given the horror of the creepypasta is structured around the abnormal liminal setting, it’s a delight to hear that the acting gives the film an extra boost. Ejiofor and Reinsve are phenomenal actors, and their roles were always bound to add some much-needed substance to such a simplistic idea. They provide the perfect final reason for Backrooms‘ surge in positive reviews, setting it up to be one of the biggest surprise hits this summer.
- Release Date
-
May 27, 2026
- Runtime
-
110 minutes
- Director
-
Kane Parsons
- Writers
-
Will Soodik
- Producers
-
Chris Ferguson, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, James Wan, Jenno Topping, Kori Adelson, Michael Clear, Osgood Perkins, Peter Chernin, Roberto Patino, Shawn Levy
