From Viral Yellow Halls to Hollywood: The Backrooms' Creepy Journey

Backrooms is the latest Hollywood film that has captured the attention of millions, especially those who spend a lot of time online. The movie stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, a man who finds himself wandering through endless yellow corridors known as the Backrooms. These spaces are not just ordinary hallways or office blocks; they are unsettling, empty places that seem to go on forever, making anyone who enters feel lost and uneasy. The idea of the Backrooms first appeared in 2019 on an internet message board, where users were asked to share images that felt strange or off. One user posted a photo of an empty office with yellow wallpaper and buzzing fluorescent lights, describing it as a place you could accidentally end up if you 'noclip' out of reality, a term from video games. The post described the Backrooms as a place filled with the smell of old carpet, endless noise, and millions of square miles of empty rooms.

This creepy concept quickly became popular online, inspiring a YouTube mini-series created by Kane Parsons, who was only 16 at the time. Using computer graphics, Parsons made videos that looked like real found footage of someone trapped in the Backrooms. His series became a huge hit, with over 200 million views. Hollywood studio A24 noticed the popularity and asked Parsons, now 20, to direct a full-length movie based on his series. For the film, the team built a massive set to make the Backrooms feel real and even more disturbing. The movie explores not just fear, but also mental health. Clark, the main character, is struggling with his life after a divorce. As he and his therapist Mary, played by Renate Reinsve, explore the Backrooms, the strange environment forces them to confront their own traumas and fears.

The Backrooms have become a big part of internet culture, with a Reddit forum of over 350,000 members and TikTok videos about the Backrooms reaching more than 30 billion views. The idea of liminal spaces—places that are in-between, like hallways or doorways—makes people feel uneasy because our brains have trouble understanding them. Experts say that these spaces can be especially hard for people who have experienced trauma. The Backrooms also connect with young people who feel that reality is confusing or not quite real, especially after spending so much time online and during the isolation of the pandemic. The movie is part of a new trend where internet stories become big films, and studios like A24 are looking for fresh ideas from young creators like Parsons. Early signs show that Backrooms could be a big success, proving that stories born on the internet can make a big impact in Hollywood.