Chiwetel Ejiofor's 110-minute Sci-fi Horror Movie Is Officially Hbo Max's Biggest Streaming Hit

A24

One of the biggest movie success stories of the year is "Backrooms," Kane Parsons' skin-crawling liminal nightmare inspired by the creepypasta series that's been circulating online in one form or another for some time now. Parsons, who was only 20 years old (!) when he helmed the feature film for A24, had made several "Backrooms" short films on YouTube before making his jump to a full-length feature, and the end result was a hit with both audiences and critics. Now, "Backrooms" is streaming on HBO Max, where it's become a hit yet again.

For those not in the know, the so-called backrooms are a series of eerie, seemingly impossible spaces that look like empty office buildings, at least at first glance. That may not sound scary on paper, but liminal horror is quite popular and seems to be having a moment. What makes liminal spaces so damn scary? I don't know if there's an official answer. It all boils down to a feeling — a sense that something isn't quite right. Call it the horror of the mundane. 

In the "Backrooms" movie, Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Clark, the owner of a furniture store who discovers a hidden portal to the backrooms. Things go real bad real quick, and it all unfolds across a tight 110-minute runtime.

A24

Clark is our entry point into the backrooms, but it becomes clear rather quickly that he's no hero. He's a flawed, violent, bitter man, resentful of his ex-wife and his failed life. Chiwetel Ejiofor is excellent here, playing up Clark's inherent flaws and inner turmoil, which makes him a prime target for the weird, dangerous vibes of the backrooms.

When Clark goes missing, his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve), heads to the furniture store to see what's going on — at which point she stumbles into the backrooms, too. I don't want to give too much away here in case you still haven't seen the film, but just know that Parsons and company are able to conjure up a prevailing sense of dread that increases and builds towards a haunting conclusion.

"Backrooms" is an impressive feature debut, made all the more special by the simple yet effective ways Parsons and his team brought the backrooms to life, with both massive physical sets and the 3D software Blender. It proves you don't need a massive budget (or, ugh, AI) to create a memorable film these days.