While I am not someone who is familiar with the intricate lore and pre-established rules of the internet phenomenon known as the Backrooms, I have been a fan of internet horror for a very long time. It goes as far back as listening to YouTube videos while I worked in the backyard in my parents' garden when I was young and has transitioned into an appreciation for the horror genre in all forms, but especially in writing. There is something uniquely interesting about the ability of a writer to conjure imagery and sense of place through this medium. However, as much as I think that someone out there has written an incredible backroom story full of dread, I also think that the truest form of this horror lies in the visual. Based on the 2026 file directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, I think those behind the creation of this file truly understood that.

The Backrooms as a concept sprung from a famous image I’m sure everyone has seen throughout the promotion cycle of this movie. What makes this a unique story is the way that different people all over the internet have created this intricate world and resonant concept that video games, film, TV & YouTube videos all over have utilized as an influence to take their own take. This film feels like a mostly unique and developed vision from Parsons, with some small parts feeling as if they were recommendations from some of the older and more experienced directors on the project. I have not seen any of his prior work, but what we are presented with here not only makes sense but leads to a vast and robust picture of many of the things that the younger generation has had to grapple with. This film felt like one of the first times I’ve truly felt a shockingly clear younger voice translate what I’m sure a lot of them have cycling through their minds. Anchored by two incredible actors with Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Mary (Renate Reinsve), this file sets out to venture through the Backrooms and these characters' psyche, with plenty of interesting material even if it is a bit on the nose and underwritten. This is where I think the movie could falter a bit, as some of the script felt like it had been written by someone a bit more inexperienced in that role. However, where the film succeeds and the thing that will ultimately drive success is the visual language of this file. Each shot is beautifully composed & speaks volumes, especially within the titular space. The labyrinth itself feels just as tangible as it does never end and creates a unique and chilling atmosphere every moment spent inside. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this film utilizes the concept of the backrooms both literally and as a metaphor in a fascinating way that I’m still considering a week after seeing it. This film is one of the best in a very strong year for horror and I believe Kane Parsons has the potential to make something generational in the future. Go see it while it's in theaters!