Episode 119 – Backrooms – The Complete Guide to Horror Movies

2020s horror, Podcasts

Backrooms has leaped from the internet to International cinemas with massive success. Today I’m breaking down all the highs and lows of the liminal space fever dream horror and why it deserves another chance from so-called horror lovers who dismissed this.

Backrooms is a 2026 American science fiction psychological horror film directed and co-scored by Kane Parsons in his feature-length directorial debut, and written by Will Soodik. It is a theatrical addition to Parsons’ web series and was inspired by the “Backrooms” creepypasta.

In the film, Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a furniture store owner, and Mary (Renate Reinsve), his therapist, discover a dimension of seemingly endless liminal spaces accessed through the store’s basement. Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell also star.

After uploading the web series in January 2022, Parsons was approached by several studios about potentially adapting his series into a feature film. In February 2023, it was officially announced that work had begun on a film adaptation of the Backrooms based on Parsons’ videos, with him also directing. Roberto Patino was initially set to write the screenplay, but was replaced by Soodik.

Filming began in the summer of 2025 and concluded in August 2025. Backrooms premiered at the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles on May 7, 2026, and was theatrically released in the United States by A24 on May 29. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $350 million worldwide, becoming A24’s highest-grossing film to date and making Parsons the youngest filmmaker to reach number one at the United States box office.

Backrooms is the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2026 and the second-highest-grossing horror film of 2026.

Chapters
00:00 Backrooms’ Record-Breaking Success
02:03 Spoiler Warning & Channel Intro
03:08 Opening Scene & Clark’s Story Begins
06:05 Clark Enters the Backrooms
08:12 Exploring the Backrooms & First Death
10:41 Mary Investigates the Backrooms
13:11 Clark’s Breakdown & The Still Life Reveal
16:30 Escape, Async & The Ending Explained
18:45 First Impressions & Why the Film Deserves Praise
21:10 Story Analysis & Character Development
25:00 Ending Criticism & Unanswered Questions
26:44 Hidden Meanings, Symbolism & Themes
34:40 Production Design, Sets & Cinematography
39:08 Is Backrooms Actually Scary?
41:24 Critical Reception & Final Rating
45:18 The Future of the Backrooms Franchise
47:42 Final Thoughts & Outro

SHOP OUR STORE

Cast

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, a furniture store owner and failed architect
Renate Reinsve as Dr. Mary Kline, Clark’s therapist
- Ember Ambrose as young Mary
Mark Duplass as Phil, an Async scientist and Backrooms researcher
Finn Bennett as Robert “Bobby” Franklin, Kat’s boyfriend
Lukita Maxwell as Kathrine “Kat” Taylor, Clark’s employee and Bobby’s girlfriend
Avan Jogia as Naren Warne, an Async explorer of the Backrooms
Robert Bobroczkyi as Pirate Clark, a monstrous entity that resembles Clark in a pirate costume and inhabits the Backrooms
Krista Kosonen as Nora Kline, Mary’s mother

Additionally, Patrick Baynham, Dana Mahmood, and Rhiannon Roberts appear as the simulacra “Still Life” entities credited as the Bearded Man, Archibald Leland Sutter, and Red-Headed Woman, respectively; while Philip Granger plays a meterman. Katharine Isabelle makes a cameo appearance during a scene at Mary’s house party

Thank you for watching

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