Episode 577 - Backrooms

This week on CinemaChat Podcast, we're stepping into the endless maze of Backrooms (2026), the feature film adaptation of the viral internet horror phenomenon. Directed by Kane Parsons, the film follows a therapist searching for a missing man who has become trapped inside a bizarre alternate reality filled with impossible architecture, mysterious entities, and more questions than answers.

We discuss how effectively the film expands the mythology of the original online videos, whether its atmosphere and tension can sustain a feature-length runtime, and how the performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve help ground an otherwise surreal experience. We also examine the film's stunning visual design, and the challenge of balancing mystery with explanation.

Along the way, we debate the film's ambiguous ending, compare it to other psychological and liminal-space horror films, and discuss whether Backrooms succeeds as both a standalone movie and an adaptation of a beloved internet phenomenon.

So where does Backrooms rank among the year's horror releases, and did it manage to escape the curse of internet-property adaptations? Tune in to hear our full review and final ratings.

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