It is remarkable how a single grain of concept can spawn the zeitgeist in art or entertainment. Such is the case with the unique series on Apple TV +, intensity. The nominated show for 14 Emmys, It is an astonishing and unsettling journey into the unknown, which sweeps viewers with its distinct blend of drama, surreal science fiction, black comedy, and psychological horror. Creator Dan Erickson brilliantly presents the story of internal conflict and nefarious corporate dealings, shrouded in secrecy – and fragmented memories.
Viewers follow struggling leads Mark (Adam Scott), Healy (Brett Laure) and co-workers on “Macrodata Refinement” through the offices of Lumon Industries. This iconic giant occupies a massive building filled with bright lights, gentle shades of beige, and rigid, power-hungry managers swarming around it. A strange revelation seemed to be waiting in almost every corner. What does ordering numbers achieve in Macrodata Refinement? What kind of interactions are taking place here, and why are they so sensitive that workers must separate work and non-work memories?
And how can anyone navigate Lumon HQ, which is full of empty spaces and labyrinths of unmarked corridors? This is where the aforementioned pill intensityAnd influences come into play – urban folk internet legend, or “Creepypasta” called back rooms.
to cut Inspired by a range of sources, stemming initially from writer and show-maker Ericsson’s desire to “break away from the next eight hours.” [from his small, windowless office job]” As he explains in an interview with Inverse. The show is a mixture of various effects, including Truman Show And the Stanley proverbas well as office comedy office space. However, as Erickson emphasized in the same interview, Creepypasta is the main source for intensityHis initiation, and his turbulent feelings of infinity and closure.
As it happens, The Backrooms themselves were inspired by a simple source: one photo Posted on 4chan . message board In 2019. The photo, which shows an empty grid of open office space at a slight angle, was published after a call for “disturbing and damned pictures that disappointed me.”
After the image of the anonymous user, another contributor responded with this snippet, serving as a brief account of the image:
“If you’re not careful and really take things out in the wrong areas, you’ll end up in the back rooms, where there’s nothing but the smell of a damp old carpet, the madness of yellow monochrome, the endless background noise of fluorescent lamps at maximum buzz, and nearly Six hundred million square miles of empty rooms divided randomly to be counted.
May God save you if you hear something wandering around, for as sure as hell has heard you.”
These nuggets of source material served as the basis on which entire legends of suspense-filled spooky tales would be crafted. Writers and videographers contributed their own interpretations in the back rooms, based on the initial concept of an endless maze of vacant office space. Among the most famous creators and backroom tales are these Found on the Creepypasta wikias well as more complex delivery Posted on Reddit. Stories and legends increasingly grew, as creators added their own details such as premium office levels.
Given the creative potential of Backrooms, it is perhaps not surprising that expanded material continues to be released. This spans from short films, novels and “Found clips” On YouTube, to amusing memes, to Maine Craft Modify – even The games are about premise. All of these stories evoke their own sense of fear and astonishment.
While renditions differ slightly, The Backrooms traditions are bound together by a few key elements. The protagonist – and thus the reader or viewer – has fallen into a strange world of countless empty office rooms, halls, and lobbies with little or no distinguishing features. Their perilous and seemingly desperate journey to escape begins after falling through a wall or floor, in a recognizable and surreal environment. As they try to get out, they must also deal with human or monstrous threats called “entities”.
Creepypasta’s unsettling aura largely comes from the juxtaposition of a familiar, safe and strangely strange feeling, brought on by the confusing and ambiguous interior settings. This is partly related to the concept that back rooms and to cut both play withknown as Limit. This term refers to the idea that people tend to feel uncomfortable when they are in a long or medium transition state. It can apply to physical, metaphorical, or emotional. Humans have a desire to settle down and get used to a certain situation, and this constant transit – traveling without a destination or place of rest – violates this sense of balance and order.
Perhaps it is no coincidence that the word “liminality” is derived from the word “limen”, which sounds strangely similar to the company in to cut. It is appropriate, given that the word refers to A starting point for a particular physiological or psychological effect. This is exactly what happens with the severed minds of its employees, as memories of their work or “enes” begin (and end) within the walls of Lomon.
Of course, the influence of this creepypasta can be seen on a visual level as well as on a conceptual level. After all, The Backrooms paint the picture of flickering and buzzing fluorescent lights, white tile floors, beige painted walls, and bare office spaces—most of which are abundant in to cut.
The show conveys the essence of Creepypasta Minutes from the first episode, where Mark appears transformed into Lumon’s brain and gets ready for action. This is established when Mark wanders down a series of unmarked, bare corridors, making several detours in either direction until he finally settles into his attractive desk. One cannot help but wonder, how does he know where to go?
Even within the Macrodata Refinement department, there is still some concern. The office offers a sense of calm and intimacy, similar to a typical corporate room with bright lights and green, yellow and white color schemes. But this is coupled with anomalies like Computers from the seventies, the strange and unknown nature of number-switching, and the generally cold, lifeless atmosphere of the room. Again, this all sounds partly familiar – but something is off. We, the viewers, are eager to get a clearer picture of what is happening while the refineries are in operation. But their (rare) projects across the corridors and in other sections usually bring more curiosity. Much like The Backrooms, viewers fret about the office maze of secrets and items changing at every turn.
The effect comes through more subtle methods, too. There are parallels between dangers and “entities” lurking in unknown places of back rooms by the vigilant administration of Lumon – and even crying baby goats stumble upon Mark and Healy. There is also a mix of unique section sections, “Safe Zones” and floors in Lumon; Items that reflect some of the “level” system in Backroom.
A key element of The Backrooms is the feeling that its occupant will never find a way out. This can be taken, of course, at the physical level (Lumon), but also at the mental level (the “Severence” program that divides the mind). When one tries to navigate the mysterious and uncharted areas of The Backrooms, the feeling of dread increases because they cannot locate or clear the escape. Creepypasta.fandom.comThe backroom tale contains lines such as “Was this my permanent place until my death? “ These thoughts almost certainly describe the feelings of some of Lumon’s employees, but in particular the rebellious Helly, who is trying (and failing) to break out of her confinement as a new employee. At one point, Hailey tries to physically leave the offices, only to find herself inadvertently walking into the hall she just left. In fact, in the minds of “Ines” Le Mon, they are stuck here forever. These versions do not know or mention any life outside these walls. in this meaning, to cut It captures this feeling of seemingly hopeless confinement.
There is no telling where this wild ride will lead, or how far it will be revealed, or How deep does this rabbit hole go. In any case, viewers look forward to learning more and exploring the lore of this mind-blowing tale. While there will almost certainly be unanswered questions for some time, it is these vast legends – and the secrets they hold – that summon the imagination, and make both The Backrooms and to cut So alluring.
to cut Season 1 is now available at + Apple TV