Backrooms (2026)

On one hand, I can't believe this kid is 21!! And on the other, I can believe this kid is 21. 

'Backrooms' is a tale of two films. 

The first being a creepy-as-all-hell horror film from a first-time director with one hell of a sort-of-original idea. 

And the second film, a poorly executed film from a first-time director.

The good:

Chiwetel Ejiofor, as always, is electric, only to be failed by poor writing.

Renate Reinsve, as always, is electric, only to be failed by poor writing.

The tactile titular back rooms are practical and oh-so-scary!!!

Found footage is hot again!!!

A young director scores a box office success with a minimal budget and an original idea!!

The bad:

The writing fails the movie, plain and simple. While most films follow a 3-act structure, this film feels the need only to give us two... seemingly a first and a third. 

And you feel that in how poorly the characters are developed. Ejiofor's Clark is your typical divorcee with issues, and Reinsve's Mary is a therapist who needs a therapist, and that's as far as they go. If they had more meat on the bone, the last act would've hit that much harder.

There is a wish I had while listening to a podcast review of this one. I wish that Kane could remake this film ten years from now, after gaining much-needed experience. I bet it would be one of the most terrifying films in history.