A24's The Backrooms: Everything we know so far
A24's upcoming horror film, The Backrooms, is in production and has created a lot of buzz for being based on internet folklore. The project is based on a 2019 viral creepypasta concept that imagined an endless, strange, and yellow-lit labyrinth of alleys called The Backrooms. The film will present this scary digital concept in cinematic form.
One of the reasons for the excitement around this film is its young director, Kane Parsons, who released his YouTube series The Backrooms (Found Footage) in 2022. Parsons' original short film has garnered nearly 190 million views on YouTube and formed the basis for the film.
Parsons' distinctive analog horror style was well received by audiences, and the same tone is expected to be maintained in the film as well. A24 has officially greenlit the project, and production is set to begin in summer 2025. The film will star Chiwetel Ejiofor(Twelve Years a Slave) and Renate Reinsve (A Different Man) in the lead roles.
Earlier, The Backrooms' announcement was delayed to 2023 due to the WGA & SAG-AFTRA Strikes, but now the production schedule has stabilized. No official release date has been confirmed for the film as of now.
All about The Backrooms explored
The film follows the viral concept where a person no-clipping from reality and finds themselves trapped in a labyrinth of strange, endless corridors. These corridors are filled with strange sounds, yellow walls, and damp carpets, and hide unknown and dangerous things.
The film's story is likely to include some elements from Parsons' previous works, such as a fictional organization called Async, which conducts secret experiments in these mysterious places. However, no official disclosure has been made about the film's specific story. Official sources have shared very little information about the plot.
According to reports from The Wrap and AV Club, The Backrooms will be a mix of found footage and scripted drama. The film's production style will retain the analog-horror style of Parsons' old videos. Roberto Patino has written the screenplay for the film, which makes it different from traditional horror films.
The Backrooms - Directors, producers, and production
According to The Wrap, Kane Parsons will direct the film, becoming the youngest director in A24's history. He released his short film The Backrooms (Found Footage) on the YouTube channel KanePixels, with more than 2 million subscribers, in January 2022, which later turned into a web series. His work caught the attention of the film studio.
The project is being produced by James Wan's company Atomic Monster, well known for creating hit horror films like The Conjuring Universe, M3GAN, and The Monkey. Other giants like Chernin Entertainment and 21 Laps Entertainment will also be involved in the production of the film. The screenplay is written by Roberto Patino.
According to PC Gamer, A24 officially approved the project in 2023, but due to delays, its production will now begin in 2025.
The film marks a turning point in the history of digital storytelling, where internet-born concepts are now taking the form of studio films. With the collaboration of A24 and other production houses, the film is turning into a major cinematic project.
