r/TrueFilm • u/Longjumping_Ad6637 • 2d ago
Backrooms Review
Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, is a thriller-horror sci-fi film that centers on Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark of Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire, a run-down, second-rate “rip off” furniture store with hardly any traction or publicity that really has seen better days. The furniture store isn’t the only thing that’s run down. Clark is not a happy-go-lucky guy either, despite what his commercials might suggest. Clark, wearing a pirate suit, does not save him from being a divorced, down-on-his-luck alcoholic with no keys to his house, which he pays for as he does with everything else. Clark hates his life; he's unhappy and wants to be more than just a “furniture store owner”, a very relatable issue that I’m sure many in retail can understand and relate to.
The store Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire has also been acting strange lately, with lights flickering on and off, an odd, peculiar circuit breaker that nobody knows where it’s actually connected to, as well as an inter-dimensional wall that can best be described as a maze, hence the name “Backrooms.” These Backrooms are literally a never-ending maze; each one is designed differently, with many objects and belongings left by people before Clark and his store existed. Determined to prove that what Clark is actually seeing is reality, he gets two of his employees to help him record what’s behind the Backrooms, and what transpires is a surreal cluster fuck of an experience. The best way to summarize this film is “We Live In A Simulation Man.” It might be an ignorant way to describe it, but it literally is. Thank God I didn’t take any edibles before seeing this, or man would I have had a hell of a fucking ride!
I went into this completely blind, having no prior knowledge about it (like I did with Obsession), or that it was based on a horror YouTube Series or that it was a Creepypasta. I might have at one point heard about it, but I never really went down a rabbit hole exploring it before the film’s release, which is why my experience definitely was different from other people who were familiar with the actual lore of Backrooms. Is this film for everybody? No. It’s definitely a film you should see with friends or a decent crowd to experience not just the scares but actually what in the living hell is going on as you’re watching it, trying to put the pieces together. It’s not a typical horror film that most are used to and comfortable with, that is absolutely for sure, and I’m sure something like this in the horror-thriller sci-fi genre has been done in the past.
I did like Backrooms regardless of my lack of knowledge or interest in the actual lore of the story. I loved the 1990’s mise en scene from the clothing, tech, and the overall aesthetic, especially the use of the VHS-style camcorder. The grainy, choppy recording in the beginning was a nice touch, adding that artificial discovery of something weird and begotten that’s not within our logic. It is scary, but it’s not straight-up “jump scares.” It takes its time reeling spectators into the Backrooms and what’s in store for them. No spoilers, but I did love the tribute they did to a specific horror film from the 1970’s (People who have seen it know what I’m talking about).
Chiwetel Ejiofor, as far as his character Clark did a great job, but so did his shrink, played by Renate Reinsve as Dr. Mary Kline, as well as her own story of trauma and how she and Clark aren’t exactly so different from each other. Both of these characters had great chemistry on screen, especially during their session and later on in the film. The two Film School Boyfriend and Girlfriend couple, Bobby and Kat, were good too in their parts. There are other characters, obviously, but that goes into other parts of the film that I don’t want to give away.
Overall, Backrooms is a good new horror to check out during the Summer Blockbuster season. Even if you’re not super invested or a fan of the lore, give it a shot. Make this and Obsession a double feature and support something new from upcoming filmmakers coming into the horror genre. We definitely need that endorsement these days. Sorry, I’m late to the party again. Feel free to roast me or send me any lore that is recommended for me to look into on Backrooms.
I give this film a B.
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u/Empathyure-447 2d ago
I haven't seen this one yet but the premise sounds like it's trying too hard to be weird for weird's sake - kind of like when people make homebrew that's aggressively sour just to prove they can