First ‘Backrooms’ Reactions Hit Social Media
First reactions to Backrooms suggest Kane Parsons has successfully transformed his viral internet horror phenomenon into an intensely atmospheric feature debut.
Critics repeatedly described the film as a suffocating “liminal nightmare,” with Erik Davis calling it “a wholly unique and original horror film that freaks you out and creeps you out while luring you deeper into its eerie” world, while Courtney Howard praised its “pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat suspense.” Matt Neglia also highlighted Parsons’ confidence behind the camera, writing that the filmmaker brings “a unique voice” to the big screen and delivers “a horror film that demands patience,” signaling that Backrooms may lean more into psychological dread and immersive tension than traditional jump scares.
In Backrooms, Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a furniture store owner who discovers a portal to a strange, empty office space hidden in the back of his shop.
Lukita Maxwell and Finn Bennett also star in the A24 horror movie set to open north of $20M.
Enter the liminal space on May 29, 2026.
BACKROOMS is a promising feature directorial debut for Kane Parsons as he takes what worked best in the web series (the uncanny terror of liminal space) and brings it to the big screen with confidence and a unique voice. This is a horror film that demands patience from its… pic.twitter.com/U1aWUuAnTg
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) May 8, 2026
Still trying to form my full thoughts on BACKROOMS, but I will say that there's a certain sequence in this that got my blood pumping so fast that I had no choice but to close my eyes.
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) May 8, 2026
A very promising start for Kane Parsons as a filmmaker! pic.twitter.com/o4r0CIDYJr
Kane Parsons’ #Backrooms is a TRIP. A brilliant, frightening vision. Beautifully claustrophobic, pulse-pounding & freaky AF. Superb world building, edge-of-your-seat suspense & earned scares. Renate Reinsve & Chiwetel Ejiofor are terrific. Danny Vermette’s production design, a ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/UCkEozVnFa
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) May 8, 2026
Kane Parsons’ #Backrooms is wild stuff. A wholly unique and original horror film that freaks you out and creeps you out while luring you deeper into its eerie, liminal nightmare. The kind of movie that gets under your skin and stays there.
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) May 8, 2026
For a film full of empty rooms and… pic.twitter.com/i5iIK4uegH
#Backrooms is an unnerving, atmospheric nightmare with outstanding yellow-tinged 90s-core imagery, creepy creature design, and deeply unsettling vibes. Chiwetel Ejiofor & Renate Reinsve are excellent, as always. pic.twitter.com/bkIUA39WO5
— The Playlist (@ThePlaylistNews) May 7, 2026
While #Backrooms ultimately works better as a series, Kane Parsons delivers a promising debut feature, firmly establishing himself as one to watch. I'm a sucker for liminal horror, and when BACKROOMS works, it's a waking nightmare. Easily the best creepypasta adaptation yet. pic.twitter.com/hn8RcVjcYt
— BJ Colangelo (@bjcolangelo) May 8, 2026
#backrooms is frightening in its approach to all things terrifying about the metaphysical that worms inside the mind, held together by two very vulnerable and intense performances and features quite possibly the most anxiety inducing finale in a very long time pic.twitter.com/GRR8zMec8e
— Chris (@ItsChrisAguilar) May 8, 2026
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