The 2026 horror film “Backrooms” brought one of the internet’s most unsettling urban legends to life on the big screen, transforming endless yellow hallways and liminal spaces into a cinematic nightmare. While much of the film takes place on a massive practical set built on soundstages, several real-world locations across Metro Vancouver help ground the story before it descends into a surreal maze.
From Van City’s bustling urban landscapes to the quieter commercial areas of Coquitlam, fans can visit many of the places that helped shape the film’s eerie atmosphere. This guide explores the key filming locations used in “Backrooms,” along with tips on what to see, where to stay, where to eat and how to make the most of a visit to these hauntingly familiar locations.
Tips For Visiting Vancouver Filming Locations
Key Scenes: The most iconic part of the film – the endless yellow corridor maze – was not CGI, but a massive 30,000-square-foot practical set built across Vancouver soundstages, 4Filming reports. These modular hallways were physically constructed and rearranged throughout filming to create the illusion of infinite space, with fluorescent lighting rigs installed to mimic the unsettling buzz of the Backrooms dimension.
Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Vancouver depends on the experience you want. For the warmest weather, longest days, and most outdoor activities, May through September is ideal, with June to August being the most popular period. However, if you’re going for a more moody, cinematic, or “Backrooms”-style atmosphere, October through March is better because of the frequent rain, overcast skies, fog, and early sunsets that give the city a quiet, liminal feel.
Transportation Options: Vancouver’s main transportation system is run by TransLink. The SkyTrain is the fastest way to travel between major areas, while buses cover neighborhoods that trains don’t reach. The SeaBus connects downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver across the harbor. You can pay using a Compass Card or contactless debit/credit, making it easy to get around without a car.
As Creative Bloq notes, Director Kane Parsons attended CCXP Mexico, where he described the experience of walking through the set as “incredibly surreal,” noting that its scale was so disorienting that even crew members occasionally got lost. Much of the design was first created digitally before being physically rebuilt, allowing the production to replicate the uncanny, repetitive environments that define the Backrooms’ liminal horror.
“We did a lot of tests there to make sure we were getting the general tone that people expected,” Parsons revealed. “We did 50 wallpaper tests to get the right shade of yellow.” The director also shared, “The backrooms, to me, has felt aligned with what happens when someone goes through sensory deprivation on the individual level – and you go out in an empty room – and the body, the nervous system needs stimulation so badly [when] it’s deprived of it. It starts to find noise and information in the pattern of the walls and starts to take that noise more seriously than it normally would. It opens its threshold of what it’s willing to accept.”
Things to Do: Vancouver has a mix of nature, city life and moody cinematic spots that make it easy to explore in a way that fits almost any vibe. A must-do is walking or biking around Stanley Park, where the seawall gives you ocean views, forest paths and skyline backdrops all in one loop. In contrast, Gastown offers cobblestone streets, old brick buildings and glowing streetlights at night that feel especially atmospheric after rain. If you want something more modern and “liminal,” the downtown financial district is full of glass towers, quiet office plazas on weekends, and long empty corridors that feel strangely surreal. For more local energy, Granville Island has markets, food spots, and waterfront views, while the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park gives you dense rainforest scenery just minutes from the city.
Where to Eat: Vancouver is one of Canada’s top food destinations, offering everything from fresh Pacific seafood to world-class sushi. Visitors looking for a memorable meal can try Miku for its famous aburi sushi and waterfront views, or enjoy local seafood and steaks at Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House. Those staying downtown may prefer Glowbal, known for its upscale atmosphere and varied menu, while Alouette Bistro offers French-inspired cuisine in a stylish setting.
Where to Stay: Fans of “Backrooms” may appreciate hotels with sprawling interiors, quiet hallways and convention-style layouts that evoke a slightly liminal atmosphere. The Hyatt Regency Vancouver features expansive corridors and a large atrium that can feel surprisingly surreal during quieter hours. The Pan Pacific Vancouver offers a maze-like convention hotel layout overlooking the waterfront, while the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre combines distinctive architecture with long hotel corridors that seem to stretch endlessly. For travelers who enjoy the nostalgic feel of large late-20th-century hotels, the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront provides a classic atmosphere that fits surprisingly well with the liminal aesthetic often associated with “Backrooms.”
Kane Parsons And Crew Also Utilized Beautiful Coquitlam For ‘Backrooms’
Key Scenes: Per LatLong, one of the confirmed Coquitlam filming locations for “Backrooms” is 15 King Edward Street, where exterior scenes for the fictional furniture store “Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire” were shot. This real-world strip mall and parking lot setting serves as the film’s entry point into the Backrooms, grounding the story in an ordinary commercial space before it shifts into surreal interior environments.
Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Coquitlam is late spring through early fall (May to September) when the weather is mild, dry and ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, lakeside walks, and exploring places like Buntzen Lake or Minnekhada Regional Park. July and August are the warmest months, making them perfect for long daylight hours and outdoor festivals, though they can be a bit busier with locals and visitors.
Transportation Options: Coquitlam is highly accessible within Metro Vancouver, making it easy to reach filming areas by both public transit and car. The city is served by the Millennium Line SkyTrain, which connects directly to Vancouver and the surrounding suburbs, along with multiple local bus routes and the West Coast Express commuter rail for faster peak-hour travel into downtown. From Vancouver, visitors can reach Coquitlam in roughly 40–45 minutes by SkyTrain, transferring through key stations like Lougheed or Production Way–University. Driving is also straightforward via Highway 1 or the Barnet Highway, which links Coquitlam directly to Vancouver in under an hour depending on traffic.
Coquitlam is home to Riverview Hospital, one of the most frequently used filming locations in all of Metro Vancouver. 604 Now reports that the site has appeared in productions such as “The X-Files,” “Supernatural,” “The Butterfly Effect” and “Deadpool 2,” largely because its long corridors, older institutional architecture and partially vacant buildings can easily be transformed into hospitals, asylums, or government facilities on-screen. The property has become so recognizable in film and television that it’s often considered one of the most iconic “stand-in” locations in Canada’s film industry.
Things to Do: Coquitlam offers a mix of nature, parks and quiet suburban-commercial spaces that make it a fitting real-world contrast to the surreal “Backrooms” aesthetic. Visitors can explore Minnekhada Regional Park, known for its forest trails, marsh views and lookout points that feel remote and atmospheric despite being close to the city. For more outdoor time, Buntzen Lake is a popular spot for hiking, swimming and lakeside picnics, surrounded by dense forested mountains that add to the area’s isolated feel. Closer to the urban side, Lafarge Lake–Douglas area offers walking paths, public art and seasonal light displays, while the Coquitlam Centre area provides shopping, dining and large commercial spaces that mirror the kind of “everyday retail” environments seen in the film’s entry-point scenes.
Where to Eat: Coquitlam has a strong lineup of well-reviewed dining options that reflect its diverse community and casual, food-forward vibe. Local favorites include My Greek Taverna, known for classic Greek dishes like souvlaki and lamb served in generous portions, and Legendary Noodle House, a go-to spot for hand-pulled noodles and hearty Northern Chinese comfort food. For Korean BBQ, Insadong Korean BBQ is popular for its interactive tabletop grilling experience, while O Sushi is consistently praised for fresh sushi and good-value rolls. For something more indulgent, La Routa Pizzeria offers wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza that stands out for its authenticity.
Where to Stay: Coquitlam offers a range of comfortable, well-located accommodations, especially around its main transit and shopping hubs. The Executive Plaza Hotel Metro Vancouver is one of the most popular options, known for its full-service amenities, event spaces and convenient location near Highway 1 and local dining. For a more extended-stay or apartment-style experience, the Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown is a strong choice, offering suites with kitchen facilities that are ideal for longer visits. Visitors looking for simpler, budget-friendly accommodations often stay at nearby hotels along the Lougheed Highway corridor, which provide easy access to both Coquitlam Centre and transit connections into Vancouver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “Backrooms” (2026) scary?
Yes, “Backrooms” is considered a scary movie, particularly because of its unsettling atmosphere, psychological tension and sense of isolation, although it is generally more creepy and disturbing than extremely gory.
What is A24’s biggest movie?
In terms of box office revenue, A24’s biggest movie of all time is “Backrooms,” which smashed records, surpassing $300 million worldwide. The 2026 release eclipsed the studio’s previous top earners, including the Timothée Chalamet-led “Marty Supreme” ($191 million) and the multi-Oscar-winning “Everything Everywhere All at Once” ($147 million).
