THE FUSE

With growing anticipation for the A24 film debut of Backrooms, liminal spaces have become a viral symbol of psychological horror. These spaces unsettle us because they highlight our brain's sensitivity to processing ambiguity and transition. Images of the film’s main characters, the backrooms themselves, evoke similarly disconcerting places we’ve all experienced: a narrow, dim hotel hallway, a long underground hospital corridor, or an empty airport terminal. By examining the neuroscience behind these spaces, we can better understand their impact and what they reveal about navigating transitions.