The Backrooms: The Reality In-Between
Added 2022-08-10 18:21:45 +0000 UTCIn the past year or so, three internet mysteries popped up that really got my attention. They may seem very different, but trust me, they're connected.
The first one is about a girl who found a door in the basement of her AirBnB. She opened it and inside was an abandoned shopping mall.
The second story is about Javier aka Unico Sobreviviente, who woke up in a hospital in the year 2027, in an alternate universe. In his version of the future -- everyone on earth has vanished. He's the only one left, and he has video to prove it.
The third mystery is known as the Backdoors. A reality adjacent to ours that, if the conditions are just right, you can accidentally slip into. Then you find yourself lost in an endless maze of dingy carpet, fluorescent light, and yellow wallpaper.
And around every corner--
Comments
Zombie malls = sad 🐼 — as a kid from the 80s I practically lived in our local mall, there’s something surreal about walking through what once seemed like your whole existence, but something cool about wandering through your memories that seem rather attached to a physical place..
Christopher Stanley
2024-11-05 19:19:29 +0000 UTCit's OK. Javier just caught a glimpse of rapture. Read the Ethiopian Bible. It's enlightening.
JohnZ65
2024-06-01 23:46:36 +0000 UTCIt’s like ghost. They’re there but we can’t see them. What if he was “out of phase” or “out of tune” or something. Maybe in 2027 their frequency is much higher and the population appears as gone.
Chuck Freeburg
2022-12-21 04:33:24 +0000 UTCI never got the hang of the general artwork of Hanna Barbara in general, and the repeated "Honeymooners" theme always left a bad taste in my mouth on the whole. The Flintstones, Jetsons, Dinosaurs, and even All in the family in essence were the same shows, just with different decorations. The whole ignorant knuckle dragging, Neanderthaulic worker opinionated wife beater just wasn't my gig. I abhor violent acts (don't get me wrong the whole forensics pantheon of series including 24 are in my favorites category LOL) action is one thing, domestic violence? Not my cup of tea as it were. (oops it posted instead of carriage return excuse me) I did like the Banana Splits, during the single digit portion of this incarnation was spent enjoying Cedar Point, Kings Island, Marriott's Great America, Wisconsin Dells, and Indiana Beach (To name a few, Dad was obsessed with Carnivals, Theme Parks, and Disney which came later, lived there for six months during what would be in their final years before crossing over.) (My apologies there, got carried away...) Those were the magical first decades, starting in Speedway Indiana, till we snuck away to Florida. Kerry thank you for giving me a chance to recall the wonderful times, I know I typed way to much (Side effect of being a speed typer... LOL) May everyone have a great day! Sincerely, C.D. Strahle
C.D. Strahle
2022-09-02 00:54:58 +0000 UTCI didn't know anyone was an HR StuffN' Puff fan! What about the banana Splits gang? Johnny Quest was pretty good as well!! Nice to know folks like yourself are out there!!!
Kerry Pitt
2022-08-27 02:20:26 +0000 UTCI've had a hard time with the backrooms... Don't quite understand them and just the thought of them makes me a butt ( yeah you read that correctly) uneasy.
Eric Kimmel
2022-08-25 00:48:58 +0000 UTCWhy do you think I have the H.R. Pufnstuf Icon, to keep myself young at heart. Always remember my friend, you don't stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing :-)
C.D. Strahle
2022-08-11 23:46:07 +0000 UTCThe spaces are so strange. Unsettling AND peaceful. I love flying in the middle of the night when I'm one of the only people in the airport. Maybe I'm just anti-social?
The Why Files
2022-08-11 22:38:27 +0000 UTCThose games are classic. They still hold up, even through re-plays.
The Why Files
2022-08-11 22:37:22 +0000 UTCGlad you enjoyed it, Brian. I was/am worried it's too niche, but it's something that has fascinated me since I first heard about it.
The Why Files
2022-08-11 22:37:05 +0000 UTCWho knew Peele had those horror director chops??
The Why Files
2022-08-11 22:36:40 +0000 UTCI really appreciate the support, Mike. And the kind words. I couldn't do this without you.
The Why Files
2022-08-11 22:36:14 +0000 UTCHA! I'm hardly ever asked about this, Jon! It is the Shaolin Kenpo salutation. Kenpo has been a big part of my life. Here's a quick explanation from one of my teachers: https://youtu.be/GqsxGo_tFX8?t=84
The Why Files
2022-08-11 22:35:42 +0000 UTCYou're showing your age, Azrahn!
The Why Files
2022-08-11 22:35:07 +0000 UTCI love his parting send off, I just keep expecting to hear "Be safe, Be kind, Please Rewind, and know your appreciated"...
C.D. Strahle
2022-08-11 19:51:27 +0000 UTCAnyone else besides me gonna point out the Illuminati symbol at the end of everyone video when AJ does the send off???? Lol jk. Last two videos have been solid. Loved this one!!!
Jon Daniels
2022-08-11 15:56:45 +0000 UTCI always learn something new from your videos, such as there is a term for what I've experienced--liminal spaces. It's deja vu's uncomfortable cousin. I'm familiar with Javier's story, and watch his videos. I never believed he was in 2027, but it's a fun ride to take to try and figure out how he was doing it. It's akin to watching a magician perform a complex act. I'm one of your new subscribers here as I like to support content creators providing interesting content. You haven't disappointed me yet with any of your videos. Your writing and storytelling is top notch.
MikeD
2022-08-11 15:34:25 +0000 UTCI agree he's tricky to get right. That made for TV adaptation was terrible in a hilarious way... Much like any King adapted badly, it's usually a blast... I've rarely had as much fun with a movie than with Sleepwalkers from '92. I highly recommend.
Liz C
2022-08-10 23:58:56 +0000 UTCI got these kinds of vibes from the Jordan Peele movie “Us.” The movie revolves around evil doppelgängers we all have, and it’s revealed that they live in a world very similar to the back rooms. When they go down there, it’s very bland and unsettling. Not sure if he got the idea from this theory
Crazy Dave
2022-08-10 21:18:44 +0000 UTCGreat video! I'm so fascinated by the backrooms concept and liminal spaces in general. I was so excited to see you talk about this
Brian Ness
2022-08-10 21:10:18 +0000 UTCI’ve got one for you @ tips@thewhyfiles.com ✡️☯️
John Reynolds
2022-08-10 21:02:11 +0000 UTCThis was a really great one. ESPECIALLY since I’m currently replaying through silent hill games.
Luke Wells
2022-08-10 19:57:19 +0000 UTCOh, cool! I love optical illusions!!! And I double checked - the video game that I watched was actually called "backrooms" - Markiplier did a round of it on his YouTube channel a while back. The creator of the game indicated that it was inspired by the 4chan post that AJ also mentioned.
Jheni B.
2022-08-10 19:35:36 +0000 UTCI love liminal spaces. In college I had a job where I'd get off work at midnight. Loved driving around town on the empty streets. Nowadays, I like going to our touristy bayfront at about 5 am. Completed deserted instead of packed with tourists. Bonus points when the fog rolls in and partly obscures the bridge looming in the background.
Jim Hoffman
2022-08-10 19:32:38 +0000 UTCThere's a game I've played called Superliminal. It has to do with liminal spaces, but also optical illusions.
Jim Hoffman
2022-08-10 19:30:50 +0000 UTCWelll, now my wife wants me to wait until after she's done with work. She caught me starting it w/out her :P
Jim Hoffman
2022-08-10 19:29:39 +0000 UTCYou may have to reload. It takes Patreon ages to process these videos.
The Why Files
2022-08-10 19:20:55 +0000 UTCI appreciate that, John! I hope this video does well, but I suspect it might be too niche.
The Why Files
2022-08-10 19:20:31 +0000 UTCHe's a peach, that one.
The Why Files
2022-08-10 19:20:08 +0000 UTCI remember a *terrible* adaptation in the 90s. Something about Stephen King is hard to get right. But when it's done well, legends are made. Stand By Me, Misery, The Shining, Pet Sematary?
The Why Files
2022-08-10 19:20:01 +0000 UTCGet after it!
The Why Files
2022-08-10 19:18:13 +0000 UTCSounds like you're dreaming of liminal spaces, Dizzle. It's pretty common for people to do this. But in my book: you are still a very uncommon man.
The Why Files
2022-08-10 19:16:55 +0000 UTCThanks for watching, Jennifer! I don't know how well this will do on YT, but it's a topic that fascinates me. I think liminality is used in a lot of video games. Developers might not even realize they're doing it.
The Why Files
2022-08-10 19:16:00 +0000 UTCThis was a fun episode AJ!!! I loved the discussion on liminality. I'm pretty sure I've seen a video game similar to the backroom concept, complete with the graffiti and the being followed by something, but I do not recall the name of it at the moment.
Jheni B.
2022-08-10 19:08:19 +0000 UTCCan’t say that I’ve ever consciously experienced one of these spaces, but have dreamt seemingly the same one many times. It’s an all white interior of a large building, like a museum or some kind of transportation station. Seems like white marble or granite. I take a stairway down to a lower level which brings me to numerous hallways, all white, with doors along the entire length. Sort of reminds me of a military sub level that I’m not supposed to be in. In other dreams, where I’m not alone, I want to always find the passage back to that place from the earlier dream. I somehow know where the entrance is, even though I’ve never been in this dream before, I can always find the door. I’ve dreamed of malls with many winding carpeted staircases reminding me of a fancy restaurant or hotel/casino, but always find my way back to the white hallways. Could be some connection to liminal spaces but not sure since I am asleep.
Dizzle McShizzle
2022-08-10 19:06:17 +0000 UTCOoh liminal spaces! Gonna watch shortly
Jim Hoffman
2022-08-10 19:06:12 +0000 UTCSo I've had a legitimate phobia of liminal spaces since I was tiny, like 6 years old. Stephen King's The Langoliers is a brilliant take on the concept, I just wish Hollywood would hurry up and make a decent film adaptation.
Liz C
2022-08-10 18:59:34 +0000 UTCThat Hecklefish, so dogdamn funny!!!
73chn05h4m4n
2022-08-10 18:54:56 +0000 UTCAnother beauty AJ & HF! You’re the best 📡🤘🏻
John Reynolds
2022-08-10 18:49:33 +0000 UTCNo picture?
Mark william lane
2022-08-10 18:23:39 +0000 UTC
