Multiverse Of Madness
By TIM DAVID HARVEY
110 Mins. Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell & Mark Duplass. Screenplay: Will Soodik. Director: Kane Parsons. In: Theatres.
The Kane Parsons project is one of the most innovative and inspired ideas in a horror genre that is really transcending the artform of late. Further rhyme to the reason that all genres of movies and music are incredible in their individual right. Parsons becomes the second multi-talented YouTuber (he's also a composer and visual effects artist) to make it big in Hollywood's horror circuit this calendar, after the compelling Curry Barker's (also a comedian and sketch-comedy artist) outstanding 'Obsession' became, not only the second highest-grossing horror ever (following 'The Sixth Sense'), but also a critical, cautionary tale on the nature of consent. Barker's bold statement was released here in Japan a fortnight ago. This weekend in the Land of the Rising Sun, we finally get to enter the 'Backrooms', one week before we are eventually given 'The Odyssey' of Homer by Christopher Nolan. These rooms now make for A24's highest-grossing film ever...in any genre. In addition, we are also offered the new, post-credit, 16-minute bonus of the 'Everything Must Go Edition', for even more Shyamalan signs.
Just call Parsons and Barker the new Ari Aster and Jordan Peele of horror. The creepypasta of 'The Backrooms' that Kane has been able to give us on 4chan for years. Threads of terrifying imageboards of a fictional location that feels both too real and impossibly immersive to comprehend. These backdoors to alternative realities of empty rooms housing items and ideas from our subconscious. The viral videos that go deeper into your mind and memories than Nolan's 'Inception' will leave you shuddering more than 'The Shining', King or Kubrick's version. Similar to how another YouTuber turned genius horror storyteller, masked Japanese novelist Uketsu (The 'Strange House', 'Pictures' and 'Building'), incorporates diagrams and images into his work. Both giving their own personal passion projects a much more believable, lived-in authenticity. Add some shaky-cam straight out of the legendary 'Blair Witch Project' found footage department to this faded lemon, liminal space aesthetic, and you'll be scared straight.
You'll be even more unnerved and never settled by these 'Backrooms' than you will 'Obsession', checking the corners of your bedroom and keeping your electricity bill as high as Kane and Curry are taking the horror form. With cruelly coaxing corridors longer than a Hall of Fame leading you to red herrings and symbolism of what's lurking around the corner that will have your mind playing more tricks on you than the tropes of the horror trade. It's what you don't see that truly terrifies you. Even when the reveal of what's creeping, crouching and stomping around is absolutely ridiculous...ridiculously scary that is. Absolutely. Kane Parsons now shows us that you don't need night and dark rooms to unsettle someone. Horror can truly terrify as clear as day if done in the right way. Especially when it's drawn out longer than the thread of your very nerve. If, like me, this is your first time opening up these 'Backrooms', then the 'Everything Must Go Edition' will show you what you've really been missing.
Sixteen minutes of technical details for the accuracy of authenticity will really keep you on tenterhooks, whereas most other scary movies just hang people off meat ones. This director's dynamic and dynamite debut is given more realism by the script from 'Homeland' writer (completing a script his late father was writing for the show) Will Soodik ('Borgia', 'Ash vs Evil Dead', 'Westworld'). Not to mention one of the most amazing actors in the game Chiwetel Ejiofor ('12 Years A Slave', 'The Pod Generation', 'Eleanor The Great') finally gets another role of his calibre's deserving. Entering another multiverse of madness after his 'Doctor Strange' character deserved more following the first film's post-credits tease. Here, we get deep into his psyche, the mistakes he's made and the demons that lie deep in the dregs of his drink. Just like the monsters under the bed and the many floorboards that take you deeper into this dream within a dream. Excuse me. This nightmare caged within another nightmare. You'll be thinking of this, and what it all means, to you and me, endlessly.
There's also significant support from 'True Detective: Night Country' standout Finn Bennett on the line, 'Shrinking's' Lukita Maxwell (no violet) and the great Mark Duplass ('Room 104' with brother Jay), bringing even more clarity searching questions to the third-act. But it's Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve that really brings this all home. Highlighting one of this year's best after doing the same for the last two years with 'Sentimental Value' (2025) and 'A Different Man' (2024). Her psychiatrist, following her patient, Ejiofor, into the recesses of his mind, shows us the lengths we go to help people and sometimes just how much we can't. This is what takes this science fiction, psychological horror film from a clever and cool concept to a subtle and significant storytelling one. No wonder it's been backroom produced by everyone from horror master James Wan to 'Deadpool's' Shawn Levy. This web series becomes a web of wonder in 'Spider-Man's' Summer. You'll never listen to Boards of Canada or NASA's 'Greeting in 55 Languages' the same way again. This distorted simulacrum will show us who we really are. Enter if you dare!
Further Filming: 'The Backrooms', 'The Shining', 'Inception'.
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