The film that shook the US film industry arrives on streaming services
With a budget of only 10 million dollars and a viral web phenomenon in the background, "Backrooms" broke the box office records of the A24 company. Now it lands on HBO Max.
The horror film "Backrooms", produced on a modest budget of 10 million dollars and which became the greatest commercial success in the history of the A24 company, arrives on home screens. The film will be available on the streaming service HBO Max in the US on September 25.
The film, directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons with a script written by Will Sodick, broke records, grossing nearly 400 million dollars at the box office worldwide and becoming the production company's most profitable film. Alongside its box office success, it received praise from critics and audiences, with a score of 87% on the Rotten Tomatoes website.
"Backrooms" is based on a series of videos that Parsons uploaded to YouTube in 2022, which generated more than 190 million views. The videos were inspired by the "Creepypasta" internet phenomenon and the concept of "Backrooms": familiar and everyday spaces, such as corridors, offices, and basements, that take on a threatening and disturbing dimension when they appear abandoned, infinite, and disconnected from reality.
Parsons used the aesthetics of home video and empty spaces to create a sense of unease, and the virality of the work is what led to the full-length film adaptation.
At the center of the plot is a furniture store owner, played by Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, who discovers a mysterious door in the basement of his showroom. Beyond the door, he finds an infinite labyrinth of rooms and corridors illuminated by fluorescent lighting, where time behaves differently and a mysterious entity awaits him.
Actress Renate Reinsve plays Dr. Mary Klein, a therapist who tries to save him from the place. Alongside them, the film also stars Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lovie Simone.
Both "Backrooms" and "Obsession" — it should be noted that both belong to the horror genre — were the two biggest summer films in the US. Both are independent projects created by young people, relied on small budgets, and earned huge profits.
