‘Backrooms’ Review: Experimental Horror Comes Out of the Margins in Kane Parsons’ YouTube-Gone-A24 Head Trip

Owen Gleiberman· May 27, 2026 · 10:00 AM UTC ·6 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 41 views

#film #horror #internet #creepypasta #Kane Parsons #Chiwetel Ejiofor #Renate Reinsve #Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire #Oshkosh

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

The film 'Backrooms,' directed by Kane Parsons, explores themes of reality and horror through the story of a furniture-store owner named Clark, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. As Clark navigates his troubled life, he discovers a mysterious and endless series of rooms that challenge his perception of reality. The film draws inspiration from Internet memes and creepypasta, creating a unique atmospheric experience.

Key facts

▪Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Clark, a divorced furniture-store owner in 'Backrooms.'
▪The film is inspired by a creepypasta concept that originated from a spooky photograph taken in a former furniture store in Wisconsin.
▪Kane Parsons, the director, initially created a series of short films on YouTube that gained significant popularity before this feature adaptation.

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Original publisher	Variety
Canonical URL	https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/backrooms-review-chiwetel-ejiofor-kane-parsons-1236758845/
Publication time	Wed, 27 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-05-27T10:07:58.288Z
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Home Film Reviews May 27, 2026 3:00am PT ‘Backrooms’ Review: Experimental Horror Comes Out of the Margins in Kane Parsons’ YouTube-Gone-A24 Head Trip Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a troubled furniture-store owner in a movie that turns the Internet memes of liminal space into an atmospheric freakout. By Owen Gleiberman Plus Icon Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic @OwenGleiberman Latest Best of Cannes 2026: 20 Critics’ Picks From This Year’s Festival 5 days ago ‘Maverick — The Epic Adventures of David Lean’ Review: How the Director of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Expressed His Turbulent Life in His Grand Visions 5 days ago ‘Diamond’ Review: Andy Garcia Directs and Stars in a Charming but Slight Neo-Noir About an Old-Movie Detective…in Contemporary L.A.

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