The Backrooms: Found Footage Horror & Liminal Space Internet Folklore | Thursday Thrills

Dive into the unsettling world of The Backrooms, a modern internet legend exploring found footage horror and liminal spaces. Discover how an eerie image evolved into a viral phenomenon, tapping into primal fears of being lost in familiar yet wrong environments.
Key Takeaways
- The Backrooms, a popular internet folklore phenomenon, taps into primal fears associated with liminal spaces.
- Originating from a 2019 image, The Backrooms concept evolved through online communities into games, videos, and a viral found footage series by Kane Pixels.
- Liminal spaces, like empty hallways, are unsettling due to their familiarity and the psychological effect of emptiness, evoking loneliness and existential dread.
- The architecture itself often serves as the antagonist in The Backrooms, creating horror through repetitive, 'off' environments.
- The Backrooms phenomenon highlights how internet folklore can externalize modern anxieties, similar to traditional cautionary tales.
The Backrooms movie arrives tomorrow from A24, and we're diving into how found footage horror and liminal space folklore became one of internet culture's most unsettling modern legends. From a creepy 2019 message board image to Kane Pixels' viral YouTube series, Reddit deep dives, TikTok rabbit holes, and analog horror aesthetics—this episode explores why empty hallways, buzzing fluorescent lights, and yellow walls tap into something primal about being lost nowhere.
Inside this episode:
• Why The Backrooms are trending again with the A24 film arriving tomorrow • How a simple empty yellow room became a modern creepypasta legend
• Why liminal spaces feel so familiar, lonely, and unsettling
• How Kane Pixels helped turn internet horror into cinematic found-footage nightmare
• Why the scariest thing about The Backrooms may not be the monster - but the architecture itself
This is a quick, creepy, casual dive into the internet horror phenomenon that made empty hallways feel like a doorway out of reality.
🎧 LISTEN NOW and subscribe for spine-tingling horror stories every week!
🎉 Unlock exclusive bonus episodes and support the show on Patreon!
👉 WeeklySpooky.com/Join
📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story!
- Twitter: @WeeklySpooky
- Facebook: facebook.com/WeeklySpooky
- Email: WeeklySpooky@gmail.com
🎵 Music by Ray Mattis 👉 Check out Ray’s incredible work here !
👨💼 Executive Producers: Rob Fields, Bobbletopia.com
🎥 Produced by: Daniel Wilder
🌐 Explore more terrifying tales at: WeeklySpooky.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What are The Backrooms?
The Backrooms is a modern internet folklore legend that describes an unsettling liminal space, often depicted as an endless maze of empty yellow rooms with buzzing fluorescent lights and damp carpet, originating from an eerie image posted online in 2019.
Why are liminal spaces so unsettling?
Liminal spaces, or 'threshold' places, become terrifying when they are stripped of their purpose and feel empty. Their familiarity, combined with this emptiness, evokes feelings of loneliness, disorientation, and existential dread, tapping into a primal fear of being lost.
How did Kane Pixels influence The Backrooms?
Filmmaker Kane Pixels (Kane Parsons) significantly boosted The Backrooms' popularity with a viral found footage short film. His work treated the concept as discovered evidence, enhancing the horror through its raw, analog aesthetic and cinematic approach to navigating the unsettling space.
Is The Backrooms scary because of monsters?
While entities can exist in The Backrooms lore, a key aspect of its horror is the architecture itself. The repetitive, unsettling, and vast emptiness of the environment creates a primal sense of being trapped and the fear of the unknown lurking within the space.
How is internet folklore like The Backrooms similar to traditional folklore?
The Backrooms, like traditional folklore, serves as a modern way to externalize and process collective anxieties. The cautionary elements within The Backrooms lore function similarly to ancient warnings found in traditional tales, helping us navigate fears of the unknown and the digital age.
1
00:00:01.960 --> 00:00:06.360
2
00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:12.640
3
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:18.440
4
00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:23.239
5
00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:30.199
6
00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:35.320
7
00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:39.479
8
00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:45.079
9
00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:50.200
10
00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:56.719
11
00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:04.640
12
00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:09.519
13
00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:13.319
14
00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:21.640
15
00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:26.640
16
00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:30.239
17
00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:35.359
18
00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:42.359
19
00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:46.920
20
00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:52.480
21
00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:59.519
22
00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:03.959
23
00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:07.359
24
00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:13.960
25
00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:18.879
26
00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:23.520
27
00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:29.719
28
00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:36.800
29
00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:42.479
30
00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:48.400
31
00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:54.639
32
00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:59.199
33
00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:03.479
34
00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:09.680
35
00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:13.199
36
00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:19.639
37
00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:25.319
38
00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:29.919
39
00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:34.439
40
00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:41.400
41
00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:45.960
42
00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:52.560
43
00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:57.639
44
00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:03.759
45
00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:09.759
46
00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:15.039
47
00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:23.079
48
00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:27.560
49
00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:32.399
50
00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:38.040
51
00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:45.839
52
00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:51.680
53
00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:59.560
54
00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:06.120
55
00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:13.759
56
00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:19.639
57
00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:25.639
58
00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:32.319
59
00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:37.600
60
00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:42.399
61
00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:46.199
62
00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:50.680
63
00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:57.279
64
00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.720
65
00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:08.439
66
00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:14.319
67
00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:19.879
68
00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:25.000
69
00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:32.439
70
00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:40.519
71
00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:46.680
72
00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:52.240
73
00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:56.319
74
00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:04.399
75
00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:09.079
76
00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:14.399
77
00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:20.800
78
00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:26.800
79
00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:32.639
80
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:38.639
81
00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:48.199
82
00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:54.480
83
00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:59.879
84
00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:05.399
85
00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:12.040
86
00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:18.519
87
00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:27.439
88
00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:35.000
89
00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:40.159
90
00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:45.519
91
00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:54.519
92
00:08:54.559 --> 00:09:00.480
93
00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:06.240
94
00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:11.039
95
00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:16.559
96
00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:21.679
97
00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:25.679
98
00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:30.960
99
00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:33.679
100
00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:39.919
101
00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:45.080
102
00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:50.799
103
00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:55.559
104
00:09:55.639 --> 00:10:00.919
105
00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:05.840
106
00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:11.840
107
00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:17.000
108
00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:21.279
109
00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:26.399
110
00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:32.360
111
00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:38.600
112
00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:43.320
113
00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:47.840
114
00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:53.279
115
00:10:53.480 --> 00:11:00.440
116
00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:07.440
117
00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:12.639
118
00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:17.919
119
00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:25.399
120
00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:30.919
121
00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:35.960
122
00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:40.960
123
00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:47.840
124
00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:51.960
125
00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:57.159
126
00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:01.559
127
00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:07.039
128
00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:11.360
129
00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:15.679
130
00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:21.519
131
00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:26.679
132
00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:31.360
133
00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:36.120
134
00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:40.360
135
00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:47.320
136
00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:53.840
137
00:12:53.879 --> 00:13:00.080
138
00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:04.639
139
00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:09.679
140
00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:13.840
141
00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:18.559
142
00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:23.639
143
00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:29.159
144
00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:34.679
145
00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:41.600
146
00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:47.080
147
00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:51.679
148
00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:56.639
149
00:13:56.720 --> 00:14:03.360
150
00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:09.879
151
00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:14.600
152
00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:19.960
153
00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:25.279
154
00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:31.799
155
00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:36.399
156
00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:41.639
157
00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:45.360
158
00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:49.480
159
00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:55.840
160
00:14:55.879 --> 00:15:00.559
161
00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:10.679
162
00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:16.720
163
00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:22.799
164
00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:30.399
165
00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:35.519
166
00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:40.000
167
00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:48.360
168
00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:54.240
169
00:15:55.080 --> 00:16:00.559
170
00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:06.039
171
00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:11.399
172
00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:18.679
173
00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:24.200
174
00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:32.120
175
00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:39.600
176
00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:46.559
177
00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:51.679
178
00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:56.879
179
00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:01.480
180
00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:05.680
181
00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:11.559
182
00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:18.279
183
00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:23.920
184
00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:27.599
185
00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:33.000
186
00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:38.640
187
00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:44.920
188
00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:50.960
189
00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:56.799
190
00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:03.079
191
00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:06.720
192
00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:11.519
193
00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:18.680
194
00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:24.039
195
00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:29.680
196
00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:35.720
197
00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:40.640
198
00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:45.440
199
00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:52.279
200
00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:57.400
201
00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:04.000
202
00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:13.960
203
00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:18.480
204
00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.799














