Video summary

The Backrooms VS Obsession: Here’s My BRUTALLY Honest Opinion....Which Is BETTER?

Main summary

Key takeaways

News and Commentary

Overview

The video is a “brutally honest” comparison between two recent horror films: The Backrooms and Obsession—prompted by heavy online debate about which is “better” and which is “scarier.”

“Scarier” vs. “better” (different questions)

  • The presenter argues that “scary” and “better” aren’t the same, and depends on what kind of fear a viewer has.
  • The Backrooms is framed as cosmic horror / existential dread: confusing, inescapable spaces where identity and memories haunt you. The presenter finds this more interesting than purely scary, emphasizing theorizing and concept.
  • Obsession is framed as immediate, visceral, relatable horror: a dangerous, unhinged obsession manifested in everyday, personal fear—especially fear of someone in dark corners/shadows. The presenter says this type of fear hits them more directly.

“Scarier” conclusion

Because of the specific archetype that terrifies them most, the presenter concludes that Obsession is scarier by far, while The Backrooms is more conceptually engaging and less psychologically disabling in that same way.

Which film is better: category-by-category evaluation

The presenter compares both films across multiple categories and reaches a final tally.

Cinematography

  • Obsession: praised for beautiful lighting, shadows, and color palette, including effective use of lighting on the main character.
  • The Backrooms: praised for crisp visuals and strong set/cinematic design (the film reportedly builds a massive environment to capture the “backrooms” look).
  • Result: the presenter gives the edge to The Backrooms (very close to Obsession).

Music

  • The Backrooms: atmospheric but more forgettable.
  • Obsession: memorable, lasting impression; the soundtrack is described as capturing euphoria/horror/tragedy and is something the presenter replays and associates with scenes.
  • Result: Obsession.

Writing

  • The Backrooms: ambitious blend of found-footage-style influence with deeper A24-like trauma/character themes, but the trauma elements are hamfisted, and the third act feels rushed with some out-of-left-field dialogue.
    • Also suggested: it may work better as a TV/episodic concept than a tightly consistent feature.
  • Obsession: consistent and underrated; while not entirely original, the dialogue includes hints/easter eggs that pay off.
  • Result: Obsession.

Acting

  • The Backrooms: both leads are credited as strong.
  • Obsession: singled out for standout performance by Indie Navariti as Nikki, described as “Oscar worthy,” with all performances praised overall.
  • Result: Obsession.

Concept

  • The Backrooms: praised for cosmic/existential possibilities and for being built for lore (including the YouTube series connection).
  • Obsession: the presenter acknowledges the concept is scary but gives more weight to how much room The Backrooms allows for theorizing and lore.
  • Result: The Backrooms.

Scares (effect on the viewer)

  • The Backrooms: thrilling “fun scares,” with some early uncertainty about what’s chasing them; however, once the nature of the threat is revealed, the presenter feels it becomes less effective and sometimes “goofy.”
  • Obsession: terrifying throughout—grounded, real-feeling, and sad—leading to stronger dread and lasting disturbance.
  • Result: Obsession.

Structure / pacing

  • The Backrooms: has momentum, but the third act grinds to a halt due to a late turn involving “Clark,” which feels abrupt/out of left field (even if the ending is liked).
  • Obsession: more standard, tighter structure; suspense is drawn out and scares are placed effectively without many jump-scares; it feels like it ends “correctly.”
  • Result: Obsession.

Overall execution conclusion

The presenter tallies categories and concludes:

  • Cinematography and Concept: advantage The Backrooms
  • Music, Writing, Acting, Scares, Structure: advantage Obsession

Overall winner (best film): Obsession

Long-term impact / how each will be remembered

  • Obsession: the presenter claims it affected them for over a week—changing how they think about relationships, causing persistent fear and sadness, and driving them to consume post-film Q&As obsessively. They predict it will be remembered as a horror “classic” people recommend and rewatch (comparable in cultural impact to major horror hits).
  • The Backrooms: they expect it to be remembered more as part of an expanding franchise/lore than a standalone must-watch classic, though it motivates theory videos and inspiration to make their own work.

Extra note (spoiler-ish idea)

The presenter speculates that the “psycho” Clark and “freaky Nikki” dynamics could form an unnerving pairing—emphasizing the nightmare scenario of being chased by Nikki in the Backrooms.

Presenters / contributors

  • Main presenter: The single creator speaking throughout the video (name not provided in the subtitles).

Original video