Production designer Danny Vermette built an unnerving recreation of an internet ‘backroom,’ featuring tunnels to nowhere, musty props, and 37,000 square feet of wallpaper. There’s a place that you’ve never actually set foot in, but your subconscious recognizes it. It’s a maze of hallways full of yellowed wallpaper, dingy cream carpet, and fluorescent lights—an amalgamation of all the in-between, liminal spaces that you’ve ever briefly occupied. Just looking at an image of it triggers a sense of déjà vu for some forgotten childhood doctor’s office, playdate, or store. This is the Backrooms, and it’s the playground where A24’s new surreal horror film takes place.
How A24’s ‘Backrooms’ recreates the internet’s creepiest liminal space
Why This Matters
A24’s ‘Backrooms’ recreates the internet’s iconic liminal space, blending horror with a nostalgic sense of familiarity that resonates with viewers. This immersive set design highlights the growing trend of using surreal, relatable environments to evoke emotional responses in audiences. Such innovations in production design can influence future storytelling and immersive experiences in the tech and entertainment industries.
Key Takeaways
- Innovative set design enhances storytelling by creating immersive, relatable environments.
- The Backrooms concept taps into collective subconscious fears, influencing horror genre trends.
- This approach demonstrates how nostalgia and surrealism can be leveraged for emotional engagement in media.
Get alerts for these topics