I Went into A24's $400 Million Horror Hit 'Backrooms' Knowing Nothing — And It Was the Best Way to Watch It

Introduction to A24's Blockbuster Phenomenon

A24's highest-grossing film to date, the surreal horror flick "Backrooms," has finally made its way to HBO Max. Proving to be one of the absolute biggest box office hits of the year so far, it raked in nearly $400 million globally. Alongside other heavy hitters like "Obsession" and "The Odyssey," this blockbuster release helped transform the summer season into one of the busiest that theaters have seen since the pandemic.

From Internet Lore to the Big Screen

If you have ever fallen down the internet's weirdest rabbit holes, chances are you have encountered the backrooms phenomenon. The concept originally began as a simple, unsettling photo posted online depicting an empty commercial department store under renovation. This eerie, liminal expanse quickly hooked itself into the collective consciousness of the internet, spawning countless viral videos, indie horror games, and elaborate online theories about what might be lurking just out of sight in those endless, yellowed halls.

Following the cinematic trainwreck that was 2018's "Slender Man," expectations were understandably low for another piece of internet mythos receiving a big-budget Hollywood treatment. However, director Kane Parsons' debut feature defies expectations entirely. His distinct artistry, pacing, and visual vision are exceptionally impressive. The careful composition and dread-inducing atmosphere were so compelling that it warranted multiple theater viewings. Now that the film is available on HBO Max, audiences have a fresh opportunity to dive into this delightfully bizarre horror experience without needing any prior knowledge of the lore.

What is 'Backrooms' About?

How do you adequately describe a waking nightmare? Take that surreal dream, pack it with unending unnervingly yellow hallways, add a pervasive sense that you are constantly being watched from the shadows, and blend it with psychological decay. That forms the core of "Backrooms."

The slow-burn narrative stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, a struggling, freshly divorced furniture store owner who is desperate to bring his business back from the brink of financial ruin. One fateful night, he uncovers a hidden, impossible doorway in the basement of his store. This portal leads directly into an endless, labyrinthine network of interconnected rooms that completely defy physics and reason. Mapping out the expanding dimensions of this bizarre expanse quickly turns into a dangerous obsession, and Clark soon realizes he is not the only lost soul wandering its corridors.

Concerned about his rapid psychological decline, Clark's therapist, Mary (played by Renate Reinsve), initiates a wellness check and ends up crossing the threshold into the exact same terrifying hidden world. Within these twisted corridors, a sinister force takes root. Worse yet, Clark's bitterness and resentment are amplified by the corrupted powers of the rooms, leading him to play a horrifying game of house as his grip on reality completely unravels.

Why You Should Stream 'Backrooms' on HBO Max

Atmospheric horror relies heavily on pacing, sound design, and lingering dread rather than cheap jump scares, and "Backrooms" masters this approach through drawn-out chase sequences and absolute surrealism. Parsons constructs an immediate sense of menace from the very first frames, ensuring that the sinister tone never lets up. As Clark and Mary navigate the labyrinth, they feel less like explorers and more like helpless prey being hunted by an environment that becomes increasingly incomprehensible the deeper they go.

Going into the movie completely blind—knowing zero lore beforehand—actually elevates the experience. The film refuses to hold the viewer's hand, deliberately leaving major questions unanswered. This narrative choice gives audiences plenty of room to interpret the symbolism and fill in the blanks themselves. While this ambiguous storytelling style might not appeal to everyone, viewers willing to surrender to its cerebral and terrifying depths will find an unforgettable cinematic treat waiting for them on HBO Max.