Director Kane Parsons has addressed the deliberately confusing conclusion of the A24 horror-science-fiction film "Backrooms" following its release this weekend [1].
The ambiguity of the finale has turned the movie into a focal point for audience speculation. By leaving key plot points open to interpretation, the film encourages viewers to debate the nature of its world, and the fate of its characters.
Parsons, who also worked with writer Will Soodik, designed the ending to be symbolic rather than literal [2]. The narrative focuses on the experiences of characters such as Dr. Mary Kline, whose journey through the surreal environment culminates in a climax that avoids providing easy answers [3].
This approach has led to significant discourse online, with viewers analyzing specific imagery—including the tape-door outline—to determine what actually occurred [3]. Parsons said the confusion is a purposeful element of the storytelling process [2].
While the film does not explicitly confirm a follow-up, the open-ended nature of the story is widely viewed as a setup for future installments [2]. The strategy aligns with the source material's origins in internet lore, where the "Backrooms" are defined by an endless, shifting labyrinth that defies conventional logic [4].
Audience reactions have ranged from frustration to fascination, but the overarching result has been a surge in community engagement [1]. By resisting a tidy resolution, the film maintains the unsettling atmosphere essential to the horror-science-fiction genre [2].
“The ending is designed to be ambiguous and symbolic.”
The decision to employ a non-linear or ambiguous ending reflects a broader trend in A24 productions to prioritize atmospheric tension and intellectual provocation over traditional plot resolution. By leveraging the collective curiosity of an internet-native audience, the filmmakers are building a franchise foundation based on community theory and speculation rather than explicit exposition.
