Stressful, Creepy and Totally Crazy: Watch BACKROOMS on June 3!

CreaZion Studios International and A24 brought the highly anticipated movie "Backrooms" to the Philippines. Got the chance to watch it on an Advanced Screening event at Megamall's SM Cinemas this evening, and it did not disappoint!

First off, it immediately gave us that 90's vibe folks love. We got to feel how it is viewing stuff through a VHS tape.  Fair warning, the flow of the movie would be quite torturous for claustrophobics. While it remains a slow burn (on some instances), it's super immersive like you'd feel like YOU are in the story. You also get conditioned that you are safe at times, then get your heart racing when you least expect it. I'd liken it to a psychiatric session, driven by various emotional baggage (of the characters), then a little tense... a little scary... inside a furniture store in the middle of nowhere. 

Then folks just find themselves inside a weird room, that slowly just becomes smaller, tighter, creepier, which you don't even know how you even got involved in it. I like the premise, the way things were introduced, and the manner it became scary (sometimes without blood and gore). 

It's stressful, interesting, and got lots of jump scares. You'll catch folks screaming in the cinemas (go ahead!). One minute you're okay, then get unaware you're already trapped a room you're unfamiliar with. It will be double hard for folks to even spoil this movie because much of the story remains psychological. Folks would ask if what's happening is already crazy, or is it just you? 

By all means, experience all of these by watching Backrooms which will premiere on June 3 in Philippine cinemas. This will also be shown in other Asian regions. Are you scared something might happen to you?! Don't let your curiosity lead you here! Or you'll be sorry! 

It's one heck of a creepy movie (an expected Kane Parsons masterpiece). The rush will keep you going. Just don't say I didn't warn you though! This gets a strong 4/5 cows 🐮🐮🐮🐮.

The Backrooms BREAKOUT Experience

Took a Sunday off and got with some of my blog friends to experience BACKROOMS at the 5F of ShangriLa Plaza mall in Mandaluyong City.

Yes, this is a new BREAKOUT room created by CreaZion Studios International and A24. It's a limited one that will only exist from May 23rd to the 7th of June that features the scary and viral horror movie set to be shown in Philippine cinemas on June 3, 2026. They want you to feel the experience felt by the folks in the movie and for horror fans, this is something you should look forward to ahead of the much awaited movie in June. 

The room is not that complicated, and if you're pretty experienced in these Breakout rooms, you'll manage to get ahead of the pack. Remember though, to make sure to look for clues how to get on to the other task, which is a pretty familiar thing in these activities. Is it scary? Maybe, but of course, we can't spoil things like that! 

The Backrooms Breakout themed room can be accessed by buying tickets at Shangri-la Red Carpet Cinemas via the box office which can get one person in Breakout too (only for this room). If you're a group or more, you need to purchase another ticket as it is per person. You can reserve for it for 24 hours by going through their customer service channels (breakout.com.ph, from 11am to 8pm or mall hours). 

The film is directed by Kane Parsons and star Chiwetel Ejiofor and actress Renate Reinsve (who's got an Academy Award and one from Cannes). So if you want to experience this, take that tough stance and see if you can get out of the room before it's too late! 

See ANNE HATHAWAY Differently in MOTHER MARY

Just had the opportunity to watch MOTHER MARY, the Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel artsy psycho drama thriller made for the cinema by David Lowery. This will be out in Philippine cinemas on April 22, but I'd love to tell you more about it before you'd dive in on the movie.

Anne plays the role of MOTHER MARY, an artist that's like a cross between Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, who went bonkers and stopped in the middle of her success, and tried to find out what's making her lose track of her life. The film is like a hodgepodge of poetry lines + a visual feast of music, fashion, boldness, curses, artistry, confusion, weirdness, on being lost, style, fantasy and gore. Michaela Coel plays top fashion designer Sam, also MOTHER MARY's best friend and go to person for everything she wears on tour. The movie concentrates on their relationship, on finding out why she couldn't see that former spark that made her who she is as the pop star. This film is very cerebral, might scare some of how deep it is. You'll be a little uncomfortable on some scenes but I think it is essential on how it is presented. You'll hear some music from this generation's pop stars, intertwined with the story. My favorite line was when Anne's character said "I'm being dressed by everyone but it doesn't feel like me" and then Michaela replied "Tell me what you are feeling and I'll make that into a dress!"

It's a fashion spectacle, like fitting in a whole day of the Met Gala into the screen. It may take a while to get digested, but you'd be glad they took time to do it. I love Anne Hathaway in her previous roles, but this persona is certainly different even compared to her other dramatic roles. 

After seeing it, I get it. You'll also get to question your understanding after a few minutes which I think is the whole point of this movie. You won't be sticking to your realities, and might ask yourself very often (OMG WT* DID I JUST WATCH!). 

This is produced by A24 and released in the country by Creazion Studios International. I'd give a strong 4/5, and might suggest this for more mature fans of Anne Hathaway. It ain't Princess Diaries alright. It's like a living long form fashion editorial which I love. Go watch it!