17/06/2026
Directed by Kane Parsons and released by A24 on May 29, 2026, Backrooms is a psychological sci-fi horror film adapting his viral YouTube creepypasta into a cinematic triumph. Written by Will Soodik and produced alongside James Wan and Shawn Levy on a ten million dollar budget, the movie grossed over two hundred million dollars worldwide during its initial theatrical run. The narrative centers on Clark, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, a failed architect who discovers a glowing, mysterious doorway hidden in the basement of his furniture showroom. Upon stepping through, he instantly “no-clips” out of reality and becomes trapped inside an infinite, maze-like dimension defined exclusively by sickly yellow wallpaper, damp carpets, and the ceaseless hum of fluorescent lights. As Clark becomes deeply obsessed with exploring this eerie labyrinth and vanishes, his therapist, Dr. Mary Kline, portrayed by Renate Reinsve, ventures into the unknown space on a desperate rescue mission. Accompanied by Clark’s assistant Kat and her boyfriend Bobby, Mary navigates an ever-shifting environment that mirrors her own buried childhood trauma and fading memories. The group soon realizes that the endless corridors are populated by terrifying, distorted entities known as Still Lifes, most notably a lanky physical threat dubbed “Pirate Clark,” brought to life through stunning practical effects by seven-foot-seven former basketball player Robert Bobroczkyi. Rather than relying on standard jump scares, Parsons utilizes a massive physical set to craft an atmospheric dread that captures the uncanny scale of the original internet lore. The space functions as a memory graveyard, consuming Clark into a monstrous doppelganger and leaving Mary trapped within its infinite loops. Highly applauded by critics for its claustrophobic production design and an impressive eighty-eight percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film concludes on an ambiguous cliffhanger involving the enigmatic Async corporation, leaving audiences highly anticipating an announced sequel.
