‘Backrooms’ Digital Release Delayed, Leaving Fans in Limbo

The digital release of the A24 horror film “Backrooms” did not occur as anticipated on July 7, leaving fans eager to experience the liminal horror in their homes without a confirmed new date.

Directed by the young filmmaker Kane Parsons, who began developing the concept for the short film and web series when he was 16, “Backrooms” is based on an anonymous internet legend. The original 4chan post described a disorienting, infinite labyrinth of rooms characterized by old carpet smells, monotonous yellow lighting, and the constant hum of fluorescent lights, with the lurking threat of unseen entities.

Parsons translated this concept into a CGI reality using open-source 3D animation software. The success of his original work led to a film deal with A24, with Parsons becoming the company’s youngest director. The feature film reportedly utilizes elaborate practical sets, so extensive that crew members are said to have gotten lost during production. The movie stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as a furniture store owner who disappears into the Backrooms, and Renate Reinsve as his therapist who follows him.

Speculation about a digital release date had centered on Tuesday, July 21, potentially aligning with the typical Tuesday release schedule for premium video-on-demand (PVOD) and following the pattern of most A24 films, which usually become available digitally about a month after their theatrical debut. “Backrooms” opened in theaters on May 29, passing the one-month mark.

Adding a layer of complexity to the release schedule is the recent theatrical debut of “Backrooms: Everything Must Go” on July 3, an extended version of the film featuring 16 minutes of new footage. Tickets for this expanded version were available through July 16, which may have contributed to the delay in the broader digital release.

While some outlets, like WhenToStream, initially reported a July 7 PVOD release, they later updated their information after the film did not appear on digital platforms. A24 has not yet officially confirmed any digital or streaming release date for “Backrooms.” The film and its extended cut can currently still be seen in theaters through July 16.