Streaming Recommendation: BACKROOMS

The BankofMarquis was looking for something eerie and creepy to watch on Halloween night - and found a gem in one of the surprise hits of 2026 - Kane Parsons’ BACKROOMS.

And…one shouldn’t be surprised as this seemingly low-key, high concept horror/mystery film attracted two Oscar nominated performers (Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve - more on them later), so the script had to be interesting enough (with enough scene chewing) to attract this level of talent.

Based on an Internet thread which featured the image of an empty yellow room at a newly closed furniture store in Oshkosh, WI. Kane Parsons turned this into a very successful YouTube series that expands this eerie image into…something more (to say more would be to spoil). A24 quickly snatched up Parsons for a feature film on the same subject.

Their faith in Parsons was rewarded with a mind-bending, spooky, slow-burn film that will reward the patience of the viewer with a satisfying ending that explains just enough of what is going on without needing to dive into too much details.

Chewitel Ejiofor (Oscar nominee for 2014’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE) stars as Clark, the owner/manager of the furniture store where the BACKROOMS are found. To say that Clark has unresolved trauma and anger issues from his past would be an understatement and Ejiofor is more than up to the task of playing a range of emotions to make Clark an interesting character to explore the BACKROOMS with.

A24 got lucky when co-star Renate Reinsve was nominated for an Oscar this past spring for SENTIMENTAL VALUE (and, rightfully so, she was EXCELLENT in that film) and brings a strength and a sense of gravitas as Clark’s therapist who also is drawn into the BACKROOMS.

It’s a good thing that these two performers are strong for we spend just about every second of this film with one (or both) of them and the Direction of Parsons is languid and moody and Ejiofor and Reinsve help get us through the slower parts.

This type of film needs to stick it’s landing for the experience to be satisfying and Parsons wraps things up in a way that was agreeable to me - but I can see how it will not be agreeable (and a little vague) for many.

A surprising, mind-bending and creepy entrant in the horror/mystery genre that should not be missed if you are a fan of these sorts of things.

Letter Grade: B+

7 1/2 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)