A24 pulled back the curtain The back roomsteasing, a disturbing experience that must be seen to be believed Science fiction horror film from director Kane Parsons. Based on Parsons’ web series of the same name, The back rooms follows a psychiatrist who ventures into another, labyrinthine dimension to save a patient. The main roles are played by Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Life of Chuck, Doctor Strange), Renate Reinvsve (Sentimental value), Mark Duplass (Creep), Finn Bennett (A knight of the Seven Kingdoms), Lukita Maxwell (shrinkage) and Avan Jogia (56 days).
This horror film is Parsons’ feature directorial debut, the latest in A24’s history. However, The back rooms has already presented itself as one of the most ambitious and promising horror films of the year, and not just because of its top-class cast. The film is based on a horror franchise that Parsons popularized through years of online content, and uses a distinctly frightening filmmaking style only seen in a big-budget feature film.
The Backrooms franchise is already an internet sensation
The back rooms already has a rich mythology and a loyal fan base, so Parsons and A24 have the ingredients for a successful horror film. The web series follows members of the Async Research Institute as they explore the titular rooms, encountering several anomalies and creatures along the way.
Even without showing scary monsters, The back rooms awakens our primal fear of the unknown through its strange, isolating environment. Although it looks like an ordinary office building, you immediately notice that something is terribly wrong there. It should be impossible for such an empty, infinite space to exist. The fact that there seems to be no escape would make staying in these rooms almost oppressive.
The series itself is based on a popular 4chan creepypasta that inspired people to make up their own stories about the Backrooms and their various levels. Over the years, this online urban legend has spawned a widespread fan base that has reached all corners of the internet. It even served as the inspiration for the hit Apple TV series. Severance paysaid show creator Dan Erickson.
The back rooms The already large fan base helped Parsons’ web series become an online star, garnering millions of subscribers and tens of millions of views. This eventually caught the attention of A24 and major Hollywood producers like Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Deadpool and Wolverine) and James Wan (The incantation, Insidious).
Parsons’ history as a filmmaker is not uncommon. We’ve seen a growing trend of popular YouTube personalities delving into indie horror films, as seen with Chris Stuckmann Shelby Oaks and Markipliers Iron lung. A24 was already part of this trend in 2023 when it released Danny and Michael Philippou’s hit film: Talk to me.
The backrooms will take a bold new direction
The teaser for A24 The back rooms suggests the feature will capture the look and feel of Parsons’ web series with some production values. Reminiscent of the source material’s narrative style, the trailer focuses on the fear and unease of such a vast, changing space without giving too much away.
While Parsons’ original shorts were presented in a found footage style, his feature seems to follow a more traditional, cinematic approach with crisp images and steady, controlled camerawork. At the same time, it showcases the franchise’s trademark giant yellow maze, giving fans a fresh, immersive and satisfying viewing experience.
Parsons has proven to be a talented filmmaker The back rooms web series, and all before he turned 20. The wunderkind director has created many great scary films with his web series on such a minimal budget. With such a large fan base and resources now at his disposal, Parsons is ready to make it happen The back rooms one of the most successful horror films of 2026.
Even those unfamiliar with the Backrooms franchise will likely purchase a ticket after seeing A24 in connection with the production. The indie studio has gained tremendous acclaim from moviegoers over the past decade, particularly for horror films like The witch, Hereditary, The lighthouse, MidsummerAnd X. A scary image with the studio’s logo on it should attract a lot of people from the horror community.
It’s too early to say how The back rooms will hit theaters based on the first teaser of the film. At this point, it’s safe to say that Parsons and A24 have a lot more to show us in the coming months. The source material’s grand myth and effective scares are made for Hollywood, and what we’ve seen so far is just the beginning. Many more horrors await in the back rooms.
Regard The back rooms in the cinema on May 29, 2026.
