Backrooms Review: Turning a Vibe Into a Movie
Originally published May 29, 2026
By Alison Willmore · Vulture — Movies
AI-generated summary based on Vulture — Movies · Aggregated by Filmarian · Human-reviewed and approved on Jun 3, 2026
Key points
- Kane Parsons' film 'Backrooms' is based on an internet-born mythos of eerie, abandoned spaces.
- The film attempts to transform an abstract online concept into a traditional horror narrative, but with mixed results.
- Parsons, a social-media native, gained attention through viral content before being noticed by A24.
- The film features Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, but struggles to fully realize the potential of its source material.
- The challenge of adapting an abstract 'vibe' into a cinematic story is evident in the film's uneven execution.
Kane Parsons' film 'Backrooms' attempts to translate an online mythos into a horror narrative, but the results are mixed. The film draws from the internet-born concept of the Backrooms, which originated on message boards and forums as a surreal, eerie concept of abandoned spaces. Parsons, a social-media native, built his career through viral content before being noticed by A24. The film features Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve in leading roles, but struggles to fully realize the potential of its source material. The challenge of adapting an abstract 'vibe' into a traditional cinematic story is evident in the film's uneven execution.
Read the original story: Vulture — Movies
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