A24’s horror hit Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, has expanded its theatrical run with an extended cut featuring 15 minutes of new post-credit footage. The additional scenes, which debuted on Friday, follow a team from the Async Research Institute as they investigate the mysterious, liminal space previously explored by characters Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Mary (Renate Reinsve).
What happens in the new Backrooms footage?
The extended cut shifts the perspective to a group of hazmat-clad Async Research Institute employees entering the Backrooms on June 18, 1990. According to the footage, the team navigates a series of familiar, disorienting hallways until they discover a recurring sign reading, “Everything Must Go. Entire Store on Sale.” These signs mirror those seen earlier in the film at Clark’s furniture business.
The investigation intensifies when the team, acting under orders from Dr. McCarthy, cuts into a wall to reveal a hidden room. Inside, they encounter mannequins, ship steering wheels, and lawn furniture. The scene concludes as the team attempts to retreat from the space after hearing loud, mechanical clanging, only to be confronted by an unidentified figure that causes their camera to drop.
Since its release on May 29, the film has become A24’s highest-grossing movie.
How does the Async Research Institute drive the plot?
The Async Research Institute serves as the organization responsible for opening the gateway to the Backrooms. As seen at the end of the original cut, the organization operates as the gatekeeper to the Backrooms, with researchers like Phil (Mark Duplass) managing the fallout of the gateway’s discovery. The new footage reinforces this by showing the institute’s clinical, systematic approach to the supernatural. By assigning a team to catalog the “Everything Must Go” signs and document the physical anomalies within the walls, the film frames the Backrooms not just as a haunted space, but as a site of corporate and scientific interest.
Why the “liminal horror” trend is gaining traction
The success of Backrooms highlights a growing audience interest in “liminal spaces”—environments that feel eerie because they are transitional or deserted. By blending the mundane, such as furniture store signage, with the impossible, the film taps into a specific type of digital-age anxiety.
Pro Tip: Tracking Lore
If you are trying to piece together the Backrooms timeline, pay close attention to the dates provided in the internal logs of the Async Research Institute. The June 18, 1990, date serves as a critical anchor point for understanding how the organization’s influence expanded over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the extended cut available in all theaters?
The extended cut of Backrooms, which includes the 15 minutes of additional post-credit footage, began its theatrical run on Friday. Check your local listings for availability. - Does the new footage change the ending of the movie?
The new footage functions as an epilogue, providing deeper context regarding the Async Research Institute’s operations rather than altering the primary narrative arc of Clark and Mary. - Who directed the Backrooms movie?
The film was directed by Kane Parsons.
Have you caught the extended cut in theaters yet? Let us know your theories on the figure at the end of the post-credits sequence in the comments below. For more updates on A24’s latest releases, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
