Backrooms

Synopsis: follows Clark an isolated furniture store owner who discovers a gateway to an infinite, hostile alternate dimension in his basement. When he becomes obsessed with exploring the realm and vanishes, his therapist, Dr. Mary Kline , ventures into the labyrinth to find him.  

Movie Review: 

“Backrooms" is directed by Kane Parson, who at just 20 years old, is making his directorial debut after being a YouTuber. He brings his short films to life in a live-action format, weaving together intriguing lore, horror, science fiction, and tension. This film features two compelling lead characters. The standout opening scene is shot like a found footage film, filled with suspense and horror that genuinely made my skin crawl; it’s definitely the highlight of the movie. Kane Parsons excels at creating this endless, claustrophobic world of empty office buildings that feels genuinely scary. Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Clark, a depressed furniture store owner who is broke, an alcoholic, and a loner. He delivers one of his best performances in a long time; despite being unlikable at moments, you can’t help but feel sympathy for him. When Clark stumbles upon an alternate dimension, he becomes obsessed, leading to some unlikable behavior. Renate Reinsve plays Dr. Mary Kline, Clark’s therapist, and she truly steals the show with an incredible performance. Her character, with a tragic backstory, kept me invested throughout the film. Other actors like Finn Bennet as Bobby and Lucite Maxwell as Kat are fine, but they lack character development, which made it hard to care about them. Mark Duplass appears as Phil, a scientist who shows up at the end to explain the situation; he’s okay in the role but doesn’t have much to do. The first two acts are fantastic, filled with intrigue, mystery, and horror that evoke feelings reminiscent of "Stranger Things," "Blair Witch," and "Alice in Wonderland," creating a scary fairy tale vibe. However, the third act feels rushed, trying to explain too much and becoming convoluted. Overall, "Backrooms" is a solid horror film for a first-time director, and I’m giving it a 4/5 stars.

Director: Kane Parsons 

Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Finn Bennet, Lukita Maxwell, Ember Ambrose, Krista  Kosonen, Robert Bobroczkyi, Rhiannon Roberts, Avan Jogia, Philip Granger, Katharine Isabellle, Peter New and Mark Duplas 

Runtime: 110 Minutes