2026-07-14 Backrooms

I've just finished watching the Backrooms film. I have some initial thoughts. At a most basic level, I enjoyed it, Kane Parsons did an excellent job of adapting and building upon his web series. Whilst it is clearly part of the same world as the series, it is separate from it and doesn't require any prior knowledge. It was well shot, well acted and sufficiently creepy throughout. There is clearly room to expand on the concepts here, should A24 want to make any more of these films.

I want to try something new with films and books that I read this year(ignore the fact we are already at July, got to start at some point). I want to try and think about the media I consume in a bit more than just surface level, did I enjoy it yes/no? I want to start thinking about why did I like it or not, what are the themes and the messages that it is trying to say. So here goes.

+++SPOILERS+++ We have two main characters, both of whom have their own issues. One is an alcoholic who has failed in his dreams of becoming an architect and in his personal relationships, having recently broken up with his partner and kicked out of his home. The other is a psychiatrist, raised by a mother with what appears to be schizophrenia, and who has issues believing that they are unable to help anyone. Thrown into this is the titular backrooms, a “place” that appears to mimic the outside word based on its, or others, memories. Due to the fallibility of memories the world it recreates is not quite right. How our memories shape who we are plays a large role in the film, with the memory of the night that he breaks up with his partner being a pivotal point. The main “bad” is a reflection of the main character, a mirror of his worst nightmare that he has become the joke character he uses to advertise his store, that this is all he will amount to haunts him. Why is this entity the only one in the film that is aggressive and dangerous when the others are all so passive? Again, is this a reflection of his true personality, that he does indeed hurt those around him, something that he accepts at the end of the film. There is a lot to think about that I have neither the critique skills to do, or the time to write out right now. Just some very quick, post film thoughts - will have to ponder more in the coming days.