Tracking figures for Kane Parsons’ film adaptation of his viral video sensation “Backrooms” came in yesterday, with estimates saying the A24 film will open at a minimum of $20 million.
Many experts are predicting a debut several million higher for the title, which was shot for only $10 million. A lot will depend on the reviews for the title.
On that count, the response will be interesting. The movie premiered last night at BeyondFest, and the reaction has flooded social media. The response has been interesting – many seem positive on the film, but more than a few suggest they need time to sit with it.
Here’s a sampling of reactions:
“#Backrooms is an unnerving, atmospheric nightmare with outstanding yellow-tinged 90s-core imagery, creepy creature design, and deeply unsettling vibes. Chiwetel Ejiofor & Renate Reinsve are excellent, as always.” – The Playlist
“While #Backrooms ultimately works better as a series, Kane Parsons delivers a promising debut feature, firmly establishing himself as one to watch. I’m a sucker for liminal horror, and when BACKROOMS works, it’s a waking nightmare. Easily the best creepypasta adaptation yet.” – BJ Colangelo, Fangoria
“Kane Parsons’ #Backrooms is a TRIP. A brilliant, frightening vision. Beautifully claustrophobic, pulse-pounding & freaky AF. Superb world building, edge-of-your-seat suspense & earned scares. Renate Reinsve & Chiwetel Ejiofor are terrific. Danny Vermette’s production design is a star” – Courtney Howard, AV Club
“While the story occasionally loses some of the ambiguity that made the original concept so chilling, two strong performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve help ground the film as it descends deeper into its psychological labyrinth of dread and insanity. It may not have fully lived up to the hype for me but there’s a lot of potential to expand upon what’s presented here, should Kane decide to revisit this seemingly never-ending world.” – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
“Still trying to form my full thoughts on BACKROOMS, but I will say that there’s a certain sequence in this that got my blood pumping so fast that I had no choice but to close my eyes. A very promising start for Kane Parsons as a filmmaker!” – Andrew J. Salazar, DiscussingFilm
Parsons, who was just 17 when he was hired by A24 to direct the film, is the latest YouTuber to make the jump to cinema following the likes of RackaRacka (“Talk to Me”), Curry Barker (“Obsession”) and Markiplier (“Iron Lung”),
Roberto Patino pens the film set in the 1990s and sees a man discovering an entry another dimension where he wanders through an unsettlingly yellow, empty and labyrinthine office space – one that may be home to otherworldly beings.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett and Avan Jogia lead the film’s cast while Shawn Levy and James Wan produce.
“Backrooms” is set to hit cinemas on May 29th.
