Being a gamer, it only made sense to delve into this video game and short-film world that has been adapted for the big screen. But despite that misconception, the web series is what spawned the video game adaptations, including Escape the Backrooms, Inside the Backrooms and more. Backrooms adapts Kane Parsons’, also known as Kane Pixels, found-footage horror short film into a cinematic experience. The story follows therapist Dr. Mary Kline, who ventures into an otherworldly dimension in search of her missing patient, Clark.
Is this a movie that fans of the genre might be screaming at for its references? No, I do not believe it will be as hype as a Marvel film or Five Nights at Freddy’s screening. However, the cinematography of the 1990s video camera was perfect. It gave off The Blair Witch Project meets V/H/S movies vibes, in the best ways. The 4:3 aspect ratio took me back to watching VHS horror films and watching old video cassettes. I will admit I liked seeing the modern HD quality of the Backrooms space too, because we have never really seen that before.
As someone coming into Backrooms with some general knowledge, and having watched “The Backrooms (Found Footage)” video back when it dropped in 2022, I found this feature film accomplished what it needed to do. From its creepypasta origins on 4chan to reaching the big screen, the original concept had very little lore behind it. However, that did not mean it was not enticing to learn more. This film did enough to balance what internet denizens know of the original video and liminal-space aesthetics, mixed with some creative story liberties.
On top of the great cinematography by Jeremy Cox in Backrooms, the production design and set decoration by Danny Vermette and Trevor Johnston felt like a flex. It was like watching an old IKEA catalogue of rooms, similar to how Severance’s office rooms evoke a nostalgic, vintage office feel. The way the furniture was assembled, and half built into the walls, was a visual buffet. Even the camera and visual optical illusions of the rooms worked, a common trope in indoor circus mazes.
“On top of the great cinematography by Jeremy Cox in Backrooms, the production design and set decoration by Danny Vermette and Trevor Johnston felt like a flex.”
The costume design and makeup work for the entities by Mica Kayde, as well as the work of the whole makeup department, were also solid. Kayde and the makeup crew also worked on Longlegs and The Monkey. Those movies also looked great, but this project felt more intricate. Otherwise, I found the main cast’s clothing a perfect touch for the ’90s-core fashion, and found the entities the right amount of unsettling.
I would not call this a direct adaptation of the games, but rather their internet post roots—just to be clear. Audiences may find inspiration in Escape the Backrooms vibes. All the found-footage elements of this Backrooms film excelled at selling the suspense and creepiness. With the little Async lore there is, audiences will find it in this movie. It nailed all the characteristics of keeping viewers and players on edge in the same way as the original Amnesia or Slender Man games.
I would not call this a direct adaptation of the games, but rather their internet post roots, just to be clear. Audiences may find inspiration in Escape the Backrooms vibes. All the found-footage elements of this Backrooms film excel at selling the suspense and creepiness. With the little Async lore there is, audiences will find it in this movie. It nailed all the characteristics of keeping viewers and players on edge in the same way as the original Amnesia or Slender Man games.
To put it broadly, the thrill of a chase game dates back to Pac-Man, but now many have added first-person and horror elements to elevate the genre. Then, games like Resident Evil 2 and Alien: Isolation worked that fear factor within the game setting and story rather than the chase being the main game. Before getting to the nitty-gritty details, Academy Award-nominated actors Chiwetel Ejiofor (Venom: The Last Dance) and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) gave it their all. Talk about acting range, and there is always a conversation for Ejiofor. Backrooms let him loose enough to make me laugh, and captivated me to watch him.
“All the found-footage elements of this Backrooms film excel at selling the suspense and creepiness.”
I found Reinsve’s role as Dr. Kline less impressive within this movie’s story. I understand Parsons and Will Soodik had to write characters to root for in a series that did not have a protagonist. I thought Clarke’s storyline was enough to focus on, and there could have been more of a focus on his sole psychological-horror experience. This might have cut down the runtime closer to the one-hour-and-30-minute mark. Not to say this movie was too long, but her character depth seemed unnecessary to explore.
After my whole Backrooms experience, I believe this would have made for a great TV or streaming series—maybe even a highly-produced web series that builds on Parsons’ original work. Honestly, it could have offered competition with the sci-fi unsettling elements of Lumon versus Async in the TV space. Sadly, the character storytelling was not strong enough to make an impression, and it did not push the unsettling factor too far. For anyone who is a fan of the creepypasta genre, there are some cool parts in here—otherwise, it was just okay creepy.
