FILM REVIEW: BACKROOMS (15) ESP RATING: 3.5/5
- Gavin Miller
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
This has pretty much come out of nowhere to already become one of the biggest indie horror hits of all-time – after a sensational opening weekend worldwide.
It was actually my son, Joshua, who gave me the back story to this ‘found footage’ web series-turned-movie from creator Kane Parsons – who directs this in his film debut – which probably helped better than going in ‘completely cold’.
And if it lives up to the hype will definitely depend on a certain point of view – as this psychological horror is definitely a slow burner to say the least.
Set in 1990, it sees furniture store owner Clark (12 Years a Slave’s Chiwetel Ejiofor) – struggling to cope with his alcoholism and recent divorce among his dwindling finances – discover a large extradimensional space adjoining his premises.
After experiencing electrical issues, he finds a mysterious doorway that leads him into the ‘Backrooms’ – a maze of seemingly endless liminal spaces of bizarrely constructed hallways and oddly-placed furniture.
But after being ‘spooked’ by an unknown entity chasing him back into his store, he enlists the help of his assistant manager Kat (Lukita Maxwell) and her cameraman boyfriend Bobby (Finn Bennett), to document his findings. This is where things start to go awry.
Especially when Clark’s therapist Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve) – who herself has suffered from her own childhood trauma – becomes involved after entering the Backrooms, despite initially being sceptical after Clark had mentioned it in one of his sessions.
And all this is eerily being viewed by a scientist – Mark Duplass’s Phil – who works for the Async Research institute, who seem to be heavily involved in this otherworldly realm after losing one of their staff to the alien-being that Clark has now discovered.
What entails is a methodical mind-bending story within a retro early-nineties world, accompanied by a eclectically-foreboding soundtrack. Which is terrific.
There’s definitely nods to the likes of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining – and even a little bit of Blair Witch thrown in – and if you’re a fan of these type of ‘thinker’ horrors, then this is absolutely for you.
But this definitely won’t be for everyone – particularly if you’re unaware of the YouTube series – as this leaves a lot of unanswered questions that provides food for thought, among a smattering of jump scares.
As it stands, there’s no doubting this in an intriguing slice of psychological indie delight from young filmmaker Parsons, which – at the very least – makes further entries into the Backrooms an intriguing proposition.
And as his first big-screen effort, this is undoubtedly compelling fare that deserves the attention of any fan of cinema.
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Gavin Miller
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Lukita Maxwell, Finn Bennett & Mark Duplass
Running Time: 1 Hrs 50 Mins
Director: Kane Parsons
Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk
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