6 trippy horror movies to watch while you wait for A24's Backrooms

For several years, the backrooms existed as a mere 4chan post. Now, following a wealth of creepypastas, copycats, and a series of short films posted on YouTube, the psychological horror story is headed to the silver screen. The first trailer for A24’s Backrooms gives us a terrifying sneak peek into the maze-like, yellow-wallpaper-laden labyrinth of its namesake, evoking the spirit of the original with eerie precision.

Think of the backrooms as the IKEA of your nightmares, where an unending mismatch of hallways seemingly converge and contract in odd ways, and the constant, percussive hum of the fluorescent bulbs overhead bleeds your sanity dry. It’s a fascinating concept born out of a mere photo, one that feels totally original and deliciously suffocating for horror aficionados.

Backrooms doesn’t hit theaters until May 29, 2026. If you’re like me and can’t wait to get lost in its liminal embrace, here are six movies that match its eerier purgatory vibes. That is, if you dare to see what’s just outside the bounds of reality.

6

Exit 8 (2025)

As one of the few movies on this list released within the last year, Exit 8 is arguably the best one-to-one Backrooms experience you’ll find outside the actual web series. The 2025 Japanese film is in U.S. theaters now, and adapts the video game of the same name, which follows a young man as he gets lost in the twisting, enamel-white halls of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station in Tokyo.

But our protagonist isn’t as lost as he is trapped in an unending labyrinth, and the only way to get out is to reach the ambiguous “exit 8.” Like Backrooms, Exit 8 is born out of the premise of making something that’s grounded in reality feel otherworldly, and it works like a charm.

You’ll find a level of emotional weight in Exit 8 that’s notably absent from others on this list. It’s a surprising bit of Japanese horror that many will appreciate, whether you’re a fan of the Backrooms or just a curious soul looking for a good scare.

Where to watch: Exit 8 is in theaters now.

5

The Void (2016)

Don’t let its 5.9 rating on IMDb fool you. The Void is a twisting narrative that dives straight into the bowels of terror. It’s no Event Horizon, but it does capture the same Backrooms eeriness that twists a series of hallways on its head, making them into a labyrinth of evil. Only, The Void is set in a rural hospital, which breeds a terror so remarkable you’ll have to see it to believe it.

A police officer drops off a patient at a nearby hospital, only for the building to be surrounded several minutes later by hooded figures wearing white robes and black triangles painted over their masks. Depravity ensues, with the ensemble trapped in the hospital as strange events take hold.

The folk horror vibes drive home a similar feeling found in the Backrooms where nothing seems right. That lingering question is what makes The Void such an enticing watch, especially for cosmic horror buffs, and it still has one of the most mind-blowing endings you’ll ever see.

Where to watch: Prime Video.

4

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Nearing its 30th anniversary, The Blair Witch Project remains one of the most influential horror films ever made. In fact, A24’s Backrooms probably wouldn’t exist today without the 1999 cult classic, which follows a group of college students filming a documentary in a Maryland forest.

The Blair Witch Project might best be known for its camcorder look (it was filmed entirely on an RCA Hi8), but what really stood out at the time was its viral marketing scheme. Many believed the footage was real thanks to various missing posters of the main characters going around, which added to the allure and made the movie all the more believable.

While it proves a bit dated today, Blair Witch still offers an exceptional found footage feel that will put you right in the mood ahead of the Backrooms’ release.

Where to watch: HBO Max.

3

Vivarium (2019)

Vivarium is, hands down, one of the weirdest movies I’ve ever seen. It stars Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots as a young couple on the prowl for the perfect home. When a property opens up in a suburban neighborhood called Yonder, the two are ecstatic at the opportunities set before them in a brand-new environment.

Little do they know the new environment is completely lifeless, with empty homes lining the streets for miles on end in a maze of surreal artificiality. And with seemingly no escape from the suburban town, they’re suddenly trapped in a nightmare world that feels right at home for the budding Backrooms enjoyer.

Where to watch: Tubi.

2

Coherence (2013)

Coherence is the perfect example of a movie you didn’t know existed, but the moment you watch it, you never forget it. Set in the midst of a dinner party, one taking place under the guise of Miller’s Comet, eight friends embark on a psychological adventure that’s as trippy as it is captivating.

The biggest mark against Coherence is the relatively subpar acting, which isn’t new to horror fans. Like Backrooms and its seemingly mundane hallway purgatory, Coherence captures an ordinary get-together with friends made irrevocably different by forces outside their control.

Coherence begs the uncomfortable question: What would you do if you met another version of yourself? For some of us, the scarier question may be what that version would do to us.

Where to watch: Prime Video.

1

Identity (2003)

Initially, I was planning on listing John Cusack’s other horror film, 1408, which has its own myriad of similarities to the Backrooms experience. However, 2003’s Identity is a bit more interesting, as it offers a solid twist that’s grounded in a surreal mystery.

The story takes place in the middle of a rain-soaked Nevada motel where 10 strangers wait out the storm. When those in the group suddenly get picked off one by one, they must work together to find and stop the culprit.

Only, things in Identity aren’t as they seem. With its star-studded cast (John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Alfred Molina, John Hawkes) and incredible twist ending, Identity makes for a perfect appetizer in the wait for A24’s Backrooms. Just make sure not to lose sight of your own identity in the process.

Where to watch: Tubi.