(Scroll warning❗️ No spoilers, impressions only)

First of all! I watched it without looking up any pre-released clips or reviews beforehand.

The reason is that I already knew the original Backrooms video and the basic premise. So I didn't feel the need to search for information beforehand and went in with the mindset of enjoying it casually.

As a tip before watching the movie: the government is currently providing a movie discount coupon worth 6,000 won. It can be used not only at CGV but also at other theaters, so check it out. If you've signed up in advance, it should be in your coupon folder.

However, be careful, because if you cancel the booking the coupon may disappear.
I... lost mine when I tried to change the time…🥲

Before watching, I had three main expectations.

1. The claustrophobic terror of being trapped in a closed room
2. The alienation and discomfort caused by an unknown presence
3. A coherent story with a convincing beginning, middle, and end

Unfortunately, I felt that none of these three were fully satisfied.

Especially if, like me, you have some basic knowledge of the original, you might find yourself thinking, “Huh…? What is this?” at least once.

First of all, it lacked effectiveness as a horror film….

There are jump-scare moments, but they mostly rely on visual and sound effects, and even those were somewhat predictable. So the tension wasn't very strong.

Above all, I hardly felt the Backrooms’ unique sense of suffocating terror that comes from being trapped in an endlessly repeating space. A Backrooms where you can go out and come back in…?

It was more like, “Ah, so that's what that space is like…”

The mysterious entities appearing in the film were also disappointing to me.

It seemed they tried to add elements not in the original and create a film-specific interpretation, but in that process the sense of alienation and fear actually decreased and only awkwardness remained.

There are some gross scenes in the middle, but they weren't scary or disturbingly memorable. Just the kind of scenes that make you squint—you know, that sort of thing.

The story was the most baffling part….

Maybe I failed to understand it, but even after the movie finished I couldn't clearly feel what the director was trying to say.

Personally, I took it as a message that “people ultimately don't change,” but I'm not certain about that either. I heard the original creator directed the film himself, and perhaps because of that I could somewhat understand the directorial approach.😞

But understanding the approach and enjoying it are separate matters.

In particular, the camcorder-point-of-view direction was fresh, but there were many moments when it felt stifling to carry the entire film.

Throughout the movie I kept having this loop of reactions:

“Ah! Is it really going to unfold like this?”
→ Nope

“Hmm… does this mean that?”
→ Nope

“Oh, so now there will be an explanation, right?”
→ No explanation

That kind of repetitive feeling.

In the end, many elements passed without clear explanation, and because similar scenes and atmospheres repeated, I got a bit tired by the latter part…

That doesn't mean I'm totally against recommending it, though.(?)

I actually enjoyed comparing the differences between the film and the original. It was interesting to think about which parts were interpreted cinematically and which parts were lacking.🤔

However, if you watch it with no prior knowledge of the original, it may feel quite obscure.

When I showed related videos to acquaintances who didn't know the Backrooms, many of them said they found it hard to understand. Personally, it felt like you need some prior knowledge to follow the movie comfortably.

So, if you're a fan of the original, it's worth watching out of curiosity, but if you're simply expecting a straightforward horror or thriller, you might not be satisfied.

The runtime is about two hours, but personally I felt it could have been sufficiently tightened to around 90 minutes… it really strains the eyes.