When major studios pivot from exploring cutting-edge AI partnerships to diving back into cinematic releases, the shift is palpable. A24 has recently turned its attention to its catalog, culminating in a highly anticipated re-release of director Kane Parsons’s hit horror film Backrooms on July 3rd.
But this isn’t just another run. Variety reports that A24 is packaging the film into Backrooms: Everything Must Go Edition>, adding a substantial 15 minutes of exclusive bonus footage. This extended version boosts the running time to 126 minutes, offering fans an even deeper, more immersive dive into the unsettling world of liminal spaces.
The success of the original film is undeniable. Produced for $10 million, Backrooms has amassed over $330 million worldwide since its release on May 29th, solidifying its status as the highest-grossing film in A24’s history.
So what is the world of Backrooms about? The film draws its creative inspiration from a series of viral videos released by director Parsons on his YouTube channel, Kane Pixels. These short clips introduced the concept of a young filmmaker falling into another dimension, wandering through an unsettlingly yellow, empty, and labyrinthine office space that may house otherworldly beings.
Parsons’ series delves into the story of a shadowy organization known as ASYNC, which, in the late 1980s, opened a portal connecting the real world to The Backrooms. While the original viral shorts provided the seed, the feature film takes this concept and transforms it into something entirely new.
The screenplay for the feature was penned by Will Soodik, known for his work on films like Westworld>. Instead of a simple jump scare, the movie follows a furniture store operator who stumbles upon an endless array of liminal spaces hidden within the store’s basement. This exploration of liminality and psychological dread elevates the viral concept into a profound cinematic experience.
The cast brings an impressive collection of talent to the project, including Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World), Mark Duplass (Creep), Finn Bennett (True Detective), Lukita Maxwell (Shrinking), and Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap). A24 and Chernin Entertainment are co-financing the project, with producers including Shawn Levy and Dan Levine of 21 Laps and James Wan and Michael Clear of Atomic Monster}.
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Credit: JoBlo
