DOUBLE REWATCH MOVIE DAY: OBSESSION & BACKROOMS

WHY REWATCH?

Jackass: Best & Last was my scheduled film for this weekend but I couldn’t be bothered driving all the way to see it. My local (still 1 hour away), Matakana Cinema’s, were not showing Jackass and I don’t blame them. It doesn’t match the vibes of the cinema and more importantly, it probably won’t get enough bums on seats to cover costs. But, they were showing screenings of Obsession and Backrooms like the good bastards they are. Two of the best horror films of 2026 so far. I had seen both before but they both deserved second watches on the big screen.

This Backrooms screening showed extra footage after the credits so was another draw card to see this again.

RATINGS SO FAR

These are massive ratings for horror films, especially Obsession.

THE EXPERIENCE

Both were not as impactful upon rewatch. It was great to see them again but the shock and scares I got the first time around were obviously not going to have the same impact. There is no way they could have. Once I have been shocked by something, the mind hardens to it. The rewatch is to take in the details I missed the first time, not expect to be blown away again.

I did much prefer watching Obsession again, there is so much to take in that it needs a rewatch to absorb it all.

It was good to see Backrooms again but it’s one of those films that if you have seen it, you have seen it. Watching it again does not have the same magic.

THE BREAKDOWN

While there may not be much similarity in each of the films content, behind the scenes is another story.

FINANCIALS

They grossed similar worldwide box office numbers. The studio executives will be laughing.

Both had modest budgets but Backrooms had more than 13 times what Obsession did.

Backrooms is the highest grossing A24 film in their history.

Obsession made 500 times its budget.

It’s safe to say with numbers like these that both of these films will be getting sequels pushed by the studios. Which is not a good thing in my opinion. I highly doubt a sequel to either of these films will surpass the original in terms of quality and box office success. If anything, it will just dilute the originality of the first one. I could be wrong, the directors may have something special up their sleeves or pass the duties on to other up and coming directors, just be involved with the writing and production. I’d rather see them not make sequels and focus on more original film ideas.

DIRECTORS

Both Curry Barker and Kane Parsons are YouTubers in their 20’s.

Obsession and Backrooms are both of their directorial debuts in a feature film.

Both are writers to some degree of their films. Curry Barker wrote Obsession and Kane Parsons wrote the Backrooms series of which the Backrooms film is based on.

It’s awesome to see young passionate directors turning the industry on its head.

I can’t wait to see what they do next.

ACTORS

THINGS I NOTICED ON REWATCH

Obsession

• The Music: Sounds so beautiful like a love theme then it turns minor or dissonant or something or other. It’s just those couple of off notes that gives it this unsettling and hauntingly beautiful sound. Rock Burwell created this amazing music and I found out the one in question is called “Love is in the Air, Pt. 1” and “Love is in the Air, Pt. 2”. It’s sounds like it is just the E flat and G sharp major chords with the notes at the end of the G sharp part creating that dissonant and haunting sound: F, E♭, G♭, G, D, E♭. I don’t know what that means in music theory but it gives me an eargasm and that’s all that matters.

• Realistic Absurdity: In Curry Barker’s comedy sketches he has an uncanny ability to bring an absurd premise and make it feel and sound plausible. That has carried over very well into his horror filmmaking. The whole premise of Obsession is absurd but somehow it all feels very real and natural.

Backrooms

• The Psychology: I tried figuring out the psychology of the two main characters and how it relates to the Backrooms, still with no success. I always thought the Backrooms was an analogy for the subconscious mind, and I still do, but when trying to make a coherent theory about this, it breaks down every time.

• Extended Cut: The extended “Everything must go” edition was hardly worth it. Had to wait until the end of the credits just to see the science guys in suits measuring signs only to be attacked at the end. Was not very relevant to the film, nor did it build upon the story. But, the film was popular and people are dying for more so they tacked this on to get bums on seats for encore screenings in cinemas.

SUMMARY

While Obsession is still the clear stand out of the two films, Backrooms is still an amazing achievement. It’s unfair to compare any other horror film to Obsession because it is that good. It’s like The Godfather of horror films at the moment. Any other year and Backrooms would have been the annual stand out.

Moviegoers have been blessed with next level original horror films in 2026.

If you haven’t seen them, I suggest you do, at your own peril.

Don’t blame me if you have nightmares.