After taking over the internet and topping the Australian box office, “Backrooms” is ready to haunt living rooms across the country.
The viral horror sensation has finally found its Australian streaming home, with the A24 film now available exclusively on Stan following its successful theatrical run earlier this year.
Starring Academy Award nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, “Backrooms” follows Clark (Ejiofor), a furniture store owner who discovers a mysterious doorway in the basement of his showroom. What lies beyond is a seemingly endless labyrinth of empty rooms and corridors, where time and reality begin to unravel. Reinsve stars as Dr. Mary Kline, Clark’s therapist, with Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell and Avan Jogia also featuring in the cast.
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Kane Parsons, who was just 16 when he began turning the internet’s fascination with the “Backrooms” into a hugely popular YouTube horror series. The concept first emerged as an online phenomenon in 2019, capturing audiences worldwide with its eerie depictions of seemingly ordinary, empty spaces that stretch on forever. Parsons expanded that unsettling premise into a series of found-footage videos before bringing his vision to the big screen with A24.
And the leap from YouTube to Hollywood certainly paid off. “Backrooms” surged to No. 1 at the Australian box office during its opening weekend in May, before going on to become A24’s highest-grossing film to date (globally), overtaking the studio’s previous record-holder, “Marty Supreme”.
The film also caught the attention of critics. Variety described it as an “atmospheric freakout,” praising its unsettling sound design and ability to turn seemingly ordinary spaces into something deeply unnerving. The review even drew comparisons between Parsons’ unconventional approach to horror and the work of David Lynch.
Despite the film’s success, Parsons has made it clear that he isn’t finished exploring the mysterious world he created. Speaking to Variety about the possibility of future instalments, the filmmaker revealed that his vision for the “Backrooms” extends well beyond one movie.
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“Without a doubt, ‘Backrooms’ has always been planned to be more of a series that goes outside the confines of this film. If anything, I would say this is a bit of a foot in the door that would lead to more of a progression towards the true root of the narrative, which has been set up online for years. But a version that maintains accessibility and lets this be the way in,” he said in June.
“For people who are into it, I’ve got a contract, and I got a hold at my end, and that means I am definitely not done with ‘Backrooms.’ I’ve got very specific things that I’m working on, things are in the works right now that I am eager to be able to talk about, but, currently, it’s still in a secret mystery world.”
“Backrooms” is streaming now, only on Stan.