Backroom Review: Kane Parsons Delivers The Most Disturbing Horror Film In Years : Coastal House Media

Kane Parsons Back rooms it's the kind of horror movie that feels less like a movie and more like a nightmare you can't wake up from. An extension of the analog horror phenomenon that has taken over YouTube, A24's adaptation transforms the unsettling concept of “small space” into a full-on psychological nightmare that's equal parts atmospheric, experimental, and deeply disturbing. Although some critics argue that the film sometimes loses itself in repetition, there is no denying that Parsons has created some of the best horror movies of the decade.
What does Back rooms The best performance is its commitment to the spectacle. Parsons understands that fear does not come from monsters alone. It comes from isolation, from endless yellow hallways, flickering fluorescent lights, and a terrifying sense that reality itself is broken. Some early reactions described the film as “a horror stripped of its essentials,” while another called it “a nightmare with its own climate.”
Chiwetel Ejiofor delivers a surprisingly emotional performance as Clark, a broken-down furniture store owner whose discovery in his basement draws him into the unlikely realm of alternate realities. Renate Reinsve also shines, anchoring the film emotionally even as the narrative veers deliberately into surrealism. Their performances give the movie a human core that elevates it above the realm of creepypasta internet.
In view, Back rooms it's amazing. Parsons and cinematographer Jeremy Cox equip empty office spaces, empty commercial buildings, and endless hallways into something truly eerie. The production design creates a lingering sense of unease that lingers long after the credits roll. Critics have compared the atmosphere The Blair Witch Project, Separation, Skinamarinkand even The Shiningbut Back rooms it still feels different to him.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Backrooms [credit: A24]
That said, the film won't work for everyone. Some reviews have criticized the deliberately fragmented storytelling and repetitive plot, arguing that the movie occasionally errs on the side of depth. The slow pacing and vague narrative may frustrate viewers expecting a traditional horror filled with jump scares and straight-forward answers.
Still, even its critics seem to agree that Parsons does something different. In just 20 years, the filmmaker has managed to embody the horror culture of the Internet by making a modern theatrical film in a way that Hollywood rarely allows. Back rooms it feels like the start of a new era where creators raised on YouTube, gaming culture, found footage, and analog horror are reinventing the way mainstream horror can look and sound.
Back rooms it may not be the cleanest or most accessible horror movie of the year, but it is one of the most memorable. It's scary, cute, uncomfortable, and unlike anything else playing right now. For horror fans who crave atmosphere, tension, and existential dread, Kane Parsons delivers a terrifying journey worth taking.



