"The Backrooms" Book Review

The Backrooms is an epistolary story by horror writer Matt Wildasin. The reader is left to “find” a series of notes that reveal reality is nothing more than a simulated prison known as the Backrooms. Upon the realization their lives are not their own, these writers are confronted by a bizarre white cat that leads them deeper into the twisting labyrinth of artificial existence where they must decide between escape or madness.

Wildasin delivers his most experimental book yet. The Backrooms is a story of exploration, which challenges the reader to experience this adventure along with the chroniclers. The horror explored through these pages is the loss of identity and sanity, the sheer terror when one discovers they are entrapped and all they ever knew was a lie.

It is a fantastic setting ripe for exploration. There is a growing level of self-awareness from the letters, but I found myself wanting a bit more to the setting. The atmosphere is oppressive and frightening, showcasing Wildasin’s skill as a writer. The novel comes off as a twisted science fiction blend of existential terror, with puzzles and stalking mechanical monsters.

There is much to admire in The Backrooms. It is a wildly ambitious story and one that is lovingly constructed. The depth and strength of the setting demand just a bit more exploration than the book delivers, but there is much to love through the story and Wildasin’s writing.

Another great effort from Wildasin.