Movie review
May 27, 2026 · 110 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Backrooms is a 2026 A24 psychological horror film directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons. It expands his viral YouTube series based on the classic Backrooms creepypasta. A therapist enters an endless maze of eerie yellow rooms after her patient disappears through a basement doorway in a furniture showroom. The story focuses on mental health struggles, isolation, and surreal dread with no visible identity politics, activist messaging, or social justice themes.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Backrooms.
Woke representation / casting
Diverse modern cast including Black lead Chiwetel Ejiofor and supporting actors of varied backgrounds, but appears incidental to story roles with no emphasis on representation, quotas, or identity signaling in marketing or reviews.
Woke political dialogue
No political, activist, or identity-focused dialogue; the narrative stays on horror atmosphere and personal psychological themes.
Identity-driven story themes
Core elements center on liminal horror, mental health descent, collective unconscious, and internet mythology rather than race, gender, sexuality, or social justice issues.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Light exploration of mental health struggles and modern disconnection presented as existential horror without activist framing of patriarchy, capitalism, or systemic institutions.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant; the film expands the original creepypasta and YouTube series without ideological alterations to established elements.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No anti-woke or right-leaning complaints found treating the film as pushing DEI or identity politics; coverage and reaction focus on horror quality.
Creator track record context
Key creatives emphasize pure genre horror and commercial storytelling; documented patterns show no recurring identity-driven or activist creative work.
Production
