The Backrooms Movie

 

Open Letter to Kane Parsons,

Yesterday, May 31, 2026 I did a thing….. I have been planning it for months, looking forward to it for years…..

I went to the movies and saw The Backrooms movie.

WOW was it worth it!

Before I get into my thoughts on the film, let me begin with how I became addicted to the YouTube series that I began watching in late 2022.

I am old school and back in the 90’s there was a game called DOOM. The original first-person shooter game. DOOM was one of the first games to make “no clipping” a thing. Sure, some other games did it, but nowhere near the level DOOM took it to. DOOM had tons of liminal spaces, void and empty with buzzing and sounds of doors far off. DOOM also had tons of monsters / entities that could appear out of nothing and were hard to defeat.

I loved playing the game, even though I wasn’t great at it. I loved watching others play it too. No matter how often you played it, you always managed to find something new. Even Nintendo Power Magazine had an entire volume on the game, and it still did not cover all the hidden stuff.

DOOM was the first liminal space game that was addictive, fun and challenging. DOOM set the bar for everything that came after it. So, when I happened across Kane Pixels YouTube channel with “found footage” of the Backrooms, I was hooked. The layout was so much like DOOM. The sounds, the lighting and the entities were so similar.

I had seen the original picture that was posted on 4Chan. I had read tons of creepy comments about the picture. But, Kane hooked me with his very first Backrooms video, all 9 minutes of it. I would spend hours watching everything Backrooms while I was resting. I love seeing all the fan-made films and how they expand on the Backrooms lore. Some are so cheesy and corny, others rise to Kane’s level of mental mind fuck.

Kane’s original YouTube series is most definitely a mental mind fuck. I love that it is done in old school VHS style, small trip down memory lane for those of us old enough to remember using those daily! To say that I cannot get enough of the Backrooms would be an understatement and it is all Kane’s fault!

Then, I learned something absolutely mind blowing. Kane was 16 years old when he made the first Backrooms short film. A 16-year-old kid hooked me and has me coming back for more! Now, kids today are amazing with digital productions without a doubt. I also learned he had signed to make it into a movie when he was 17 years old! From the moment I learned it would be a feature film I waited…..

The fact that Kane is literally 20 years old NOW and has a major, blockbuster, motion picture of such a simple concept deserves to be recognized. Kane should be a role model for kids today so they may see that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it. The kid is not even old enough to buy liquor and has a blockbuster film!!! Let that sink in folks!!!

For those who do not know me, I have Agoraphobia and severe panic disorder. This has been such an issue for me for many years. I stay home, rarely go out. I hate even going out for necessary errands. It had been over 10 years since I had been to the theater to see a movie, probably longer. The fact that I cannot even recall what movie it was should tell you that it takes a lot to impress me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t go or couldn’t afford it. I couldn’t handle the crowds of people.

I will confess that I am one of the millions of people who frequent “pirate” movie sites simply because of the Agoraphobia. Those sites allow me to enjoy the film without stressing my condition. Couple the Agoraphobia with the physical issues and those sites make me seeing new films much easier. Sitting in hard chairs is horrible for my back and hips. Having recently been referred to the spine surgeon, with actual surgery looming in the future, I knew I had to see THIS movie at the theater.

I was always taught to support young talent. Being 56 I have tried to live by this. Now, living on a fixed income, it is hard to afford small subscriptions. But, Kane is talented and young. Every fiber of my being knows he is going to make it big. I knew that when I ran across his first Backrooms short film.

Living on a fixed income makes any outings difficult financially. Yesterday I absolutely spent far more than I should have, but it was 100% worth it. I have not stepped foot in a movie theater since 2012 when I was in Oregon. But I had to see this one in the theater. I juggled things, sold a few things and then treated myself and a friend to supper and the movie.

I can say the Barstow Cinema is very quaint, friendly and not super crowded. The people who work there are also super nice. My anxiety was through the roof, and I had to do my breathing exercises a lot. I saw people of all ages in the theater attending Kane’s film, even though it was competing with Michael. I will also confess that I did use the “pirate” site to view the film a couple of days before going to the theater. But, plans remained the same. I was still going to see it at the theater regardless of the fact that I viewed it on the “pirate” site.

I feel that seeing it at the theater helps support this young, talented genius. It is the least I could do to show support for such a young artist. Coming from me, that says a lot since I do not spend money on such things. The fact that I planned this and then actually did it is a statement in itself.

I admit that I enjoy those sites because with my disabilities it allows me to enjoy new movies with a faux theater experience. The CAM versions have people talking, some moving around but mostly the cries at jump scares. I also understand this takes revenue away from the artist and try to make up for it by ordering some of their merchandise or sharing their channels.

For some of us though, sites like that are sometimes the only way we can enjoy new films.

Kane made me face some of my demons though and come out for the first time in over a decade to attend his film. Even though my anxiety was through the roof, once the lights dimmed it was worth it!

To say that I am impressed with the film would be grossly understated. It far exceeding anything I could have imagined. Yes, I knew what to expect after having seen it on the tablet. But the fact that I went out to support such an incredible young talent speaks volumes. I will see every sequel in the theater as well, even if I do view it first on a “pirate” site.

Just to be clear, none of the pirate sites I use have any fees. I am able to view for free. I would NEVER pay a site like that. I use them because of my disabilities and, as previously stated, the CAM versions give me a faux theater experience when the Agoraphobia prevents me from actually going.

Kane, what you have created is one of the best mental mind fucks I have seen in years. It is unique, new, refreshing and addictive. I am doing my best to write this review without a single spoiler….. The simple fact that you used such a novel idea to create an entire universe at your age should deserve support and if that means I spend a little more than I should, face the anxiety to attend in person, then so be it.

Kane has the potential to be the next big film maker. The talent is unmatched and I look forward to seeing what comes next!!!! I may be washing laundry by hand this month because I spent way too much last night, but it was worth it!

For those reading this who have no clue what the Backrooms are……

 

Here is Kane’s YT channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@kanepixels

 

Watch his series in order, view the fan made ones too.

 

Yes, I have a favorite entity! I love the Bone Thief and look forward to seeing it show up in one of Kane’s future Backrooms sequels!!! That entity is just too cute to be scary! I want a Bone Thief plushy for sure!!!

 

Like many fans I do have questions though….. I hope they get answered in the films to come. One day I will make a list of the questions, today is not that day. Today is for raving about the film and lifting up such a talented young man, one who will soon be bigger than Spielberg.

 

Deep dive into this I promise you it is worth it.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Backrooms