snowynight

Today I watched the Backrooms movie. The movie not only recreates an eerie uncanny liminal space, but also tells a suspenful psychological horror story.

Clark (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a divorced alchoholic failed architect who feels that he's stuck running an unsucessful cheap furniture store. He attends therapy session with Mary (played by Renate Reinsve), who has her childhood trauma. One day Clark discovered that his store basement was connected to a space, which looked like an abandoned office space made without actually knowing what an office was like in reality. He kept going back there abd became obsessed. After him missing his session and leaving an omnious call, Mary went to his store to look for him and gets trapped there.

The visual design and music were very good. The yellow fluroscent walls, the subtly wrong furnitures, the endless doors, chutes and rooms were uncanny. The music and sound effects was unsettling and enhanced the scenes. I kept my eyes shut during the gory scenes, but luckily there weren't many. I also find the use of found footage very effective.

 Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve are really steller. They make the characters feel grounded and sympathetic.  Chiwetel Ejiofor sold me the change of Clark throughout the movie, while Renate Reinsve's restrained performance fits her role well. The supporting cast is good too.

Although I haven't watched the original Youtube series nor the trailer, I find the movie easy to follow, though I'm sure I may have missed the nuance. I really like how it doesn't try to explain away the mystery of the Backrooms, but throwing out more and more questions. 

I have just found out the director is only 20. It's really impressive! I look forward to his next work.