Backrooms concept was born as an online urban legend, first in the form of a creepypasta and then as a series of videos on YouTube, created by Kane Parsons
The wait is over: production company A24 has released the first official trailer for Backrooms, a film adaptation of the viral internet phenomenon that has already traumatized internet users with its infinite corridors and liminal atmosphere. The film hits theaters on May 29, 2026 and promises to be one of the most talked about horror experiences of the year.
The concept of Backrooms was born as an online urban legend, first in the form of a creepypasta and then as a series of YouTube videos created by Kane Parsons, and has become one of the landmarks of digital horror. The film adaptation maintains the disturbing core of this idea: seemingly mundane spaces that hide endless labyrinths and a nightmarish logic.
The teaser is purposefully enigmatic and unsettling. It focuses on images of empty rooms and endless corridors, accompanied by a narration that suggests something larger and more terrifying than simple spaces disconnected from reality. There is a constant feeling of “you shouldn’t be here”, and the cast, led by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, seems to face a mystery that goes far beyond what is seen at first glance.
The trailer establishes the mood without resorting to obvious jump scares: it is the oppressive atmosphere and the feeling of continuous disorientation that dominates, leaving the viewer with an almost physical feeling of unease.
In addition to Ejiofor (Doctor Strange) and Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World), the film features names like Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell and Avan Jogia in the cast. Directed by Kane Parsons, who makes his feature film debut directing the very creation that made him viral.
The production has big names in genre cinema involved, including James Wan (The Conjuring) and the partnership between A24, Atomic Monster, 21 Laps Entertainment and Chernin Entertainment behind the scenes.
The official synopsis describes a plot that goes beyond the simple horror of empty corridors: when a therapist’s patient disappears in a dimension beyond reality, she finds herself forced to cross this other world in search of answers and rescue. The idea is to mix psychological horror, science fiction and supernatural suspense, with an approach that goes beyond the original internet found footage.
The choice to explore a more structured narrative, with clear characters and dramatic arcs, is a bet by A24 to make the film accessible to both fans of the concept and the general public.
With its unique aesthetic of liminal horror, spaces that feel familiar yet disorienting, Backrooms is not just another scare film. It’s a cinematic interpretation of one of the internet’s modern myths, which explores the fear of the familiar made strange. The minimalist aesthetic of empty corridors and the promise of an enigmatic narrative place the film among the most interesting horror bets in 2026.
A national premiere should take place close to the US release, and Backrooms is expected to reinvent the way viral web stories can be adapted for film with depth and style.
