AJ

Really quite funny, but too high quality to be as shit as it is? Like it's stupid, in an Adam Sandler way, but absolutely stinks of massive budget and looks like a proper movie? Definitely like it but it doesn't feel like it should be this bad

I don't even know where to begin. The cinematography is incredible, the point it makes is so sinply unavoidable within the concept, but the concept itself is so so layered, absolutely perfect. The sound design is excellent, as is the lighting although I wish Nikki was slightly less in the dark to begin with. The performances from both leads are utterly incredible, and it's so nice to see a film which leaves you guessing who means what to who, realistic, unlabelled and messy relationships, rather than the archetype choosing which a lot of Hollywood opts for to some degree. The unravelling is perfect, the small details such as the TV at the end of the film are incredible, and I love that every time you doubt it'll top itself and yet it does. As much as it is incredible entertainment, I really hope it makes some guys look into themselves, and realise what they're doing. If just one guy checks himself, it's done some good. The only gripe I really have is with one frame of them bonding over an ai image like it's nothing, why are we normalising that in an indie film? maybe I've missed a stab though. Between that and my eternal issue with people using proper grammar and punctuation within search engines, as if any normal young adult does so. But I absolutely adore, above all else, the way that even when it's not quite right, it maintains the beauty of the relationship for as long as possible, makes it seem lovely until it can't any longer. And it's so damn funny when it needs to be. Nails the contrast perfectly.

I came up with a theory, upon leaving the cinema, that Parsons (known for his anti-ai stance), was attempting to demonstrate the effects of ai getting into filmmaking - uncanny, wrong faces and reconstructions of places, performances which lack humanity, a lack of followable plot, completely disengaging montages, and an all round lack of any kind of sense of a film. If that was the point, he's absolutely nailed it. Failing that though, I'm very glad I watched it in a cinema, my mind wondered so so often and I couldn't wrap my head around any of it, I didn't care for the characters, I didn't understand them, it was all just a long concept demonstration. The cinematography, sets, and audio design were absolutely spot on, but other than that, nothing to write home about. I suppose the main issue is, the Backrooms was scary because we didn't understand it. It was wierd, uncomfortable and no one understood any of it, we couldn't comprehend it. In order to make a plot, we have to understand it just a little bit, which makes it less scary. I think any film on this concept was doomed to be relatively weak, and a bad job wasn't done considering. But next time, make a plot please.

LOVEEE the musical. Don't like Joel, and Liza Minelli, although had the character down, I don't like her version of the titular song. Maybe tarnished by the newer versions, I just found it moderately unlikeable, without being uncomfortable. Just, eh.