Backrooms

I was super cautious with this film and kept putting off watching it. I love Kane’s early work on youtube and he really pioneered an entire genre of youtube analogue horror so i didnt doubt his creative vision, but i worried that studio/production oversight would lean into the ‘mascot horror’ aspect of the backrooms ip, rather than what Kane clearly intended to explore. And to a degree, it does a little. the Third Act is clearly the weakest but still enjoyable. Where this film really shines is its visual storytelling. Kane is a expert at delivering horror so subtly and ambiguously i cant really think of many mainstream horror films that are doing the same right now.  I think the most interesting development is how in the First Act, the ‘backrooms’ (big fan how they never call it this in the movies) physically tempts Clark and later Mary into it. really really interesting concept. And those last few shots and the music ohmygod the nostalgia the chills i lovedddd it. Of course i knew he’d have ‘Still Life’ play at some point but its delivery is always so effective every time. And of course theres so much homage to his earlier works and just the once very small scene of analog horror creation, maybe in just falling for nostalgia bait, that i really enjoyed. I was pleasantly surprised, very fun film and im really excited to see what Kane makes next… praying he adapts The Oldest View!!