Kane Parsons was just 17 when he was hired by A24 to helm a feature-length version of his YouTube short “The Backrooms.” A few weeks ago, a teaser for Parsons’ “Backrooms” was released and went viral, including on Instagram, accumulating over 1 million likes on the platform — something that rarely, if ever, happens for a movie trailer.
The original YouTube series employed a found-footage style to explore eerie spaces that feel like they exist just beyond the boundaries of reality. Parsons became a viral sensation thanks to “The Backrooms,” the first in a series of found-footage horror shorts that have collectively racked up more than 200 million views. You can check out his YouTube channel here.
All this to say that Parsons’ film version recently had a very successful test screening, which must no doubt have been great news for A24, who are betting big on the film.
No, really — audience reactions have been highly enthusiastic, with one viewer saying they were all on the edge of their seats. Even those unfamiliar with the story’s lore felt the movie did an effective job expanding and clarifying its world, gradually revealing how its strange mythology works. Much of the praise centered on the two leads, Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor, who were noted for bringing surprising emotional depth to their characters.
The film’s atmosphere also stood out, with viewers highlighting its unsettling visual style and widescreen cinematography, which uses eerie negative space to amplify the tension.
The story follows a therapist (Reinsve) searching for her patient (Ejiofor) after he disappears into a labyrinth of seemingly endless, logic-defying rooms hidden beneath his furniture store. This won’t be your typical horror movie either. Rather than relying on jump scares, the film leans into sustained mystery, mood, and disturbing imagery, with one attendee noting its unexpectedly mature themes and the way the central mystery remains front and center until the very end.
There have been whispers that A24 would like “Backrooms” to premiere at Cannes. We’ll see if that happens; if not, I think it’ll probably do just fine going straight to theaters.
The “Backrooms” cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, and Avan Jogia. Roberto Patino (“DMZ”) wrote the screenplay. Meanwhile, Shawn Levy and James Wan are among the film’s many producers. The film is set to hit theaters on May 29, 2026.