Special Backrooms Screening in Chiang Rai Draws Tourists and Film Fans with 15-Minute Added Scene

The horror film Backrooms returned for a special screening with a 15-minute bonus scene at a cinema in Chiang Rai, creating an unusually lively atmosphere. The screenings attracted teenagers, foreign tourists and indie-film fans who favor experimental horror that plays sharply with space and sound.

The expanded version was shown in Chiang Rai to meet demand from viewers who attended the regular screenings and wanted to experience new angles of the story. The first expanded screenings were well attended both at the central-city theater and at small indie cinema venues. Local theater managers said online buzz about the bonus scene and new details helped drive interest, enhancing the film’s unsettling atmosphere and the uncertainty of the world the characters face.

One clear effect has been a boost to the local leisure economy around the theaters. Café, bar and restaurant owners near the cinemas reported double the number of customers on nights with the special screening. Some tourists planned overnight stays to catch late shows, benefiting small local accommodations. Although not on the scale of a national film festival, the event showed how content can draw people together and generate circulating economic activity in a community.

Local film critics were divided. Some praised the expanded version for filling narrative and atmospheric gaps and helping viewers better understand the Backrooms’ world. Others argued that some bonus scenes were unnecessary and slowed the pacing, though many conceded that watching in a dark theater with immersive, high-quality sound noticeably increased the tension.

Organizers and local film fans also held off-screen events alongside the screenings, such as small talks on creating horror atmospheres, sound-design techniques and the use of space in experimental film. These events drew students from film and art programs at local universities. Such exchanges help deepen understanding of contemporary filmmaking and give locals a way to engage with the international film community.

For tourists who came to see the film, the screenings were also an opportunity to visit Chiang Rai’s art and cultural attractions—galleries, local art, street art and relaxed cafés—all within easy reach of the cinemas. The combination of local culture and recreational events adds value to the province’s tourism and encourages investment in more diverse content offerings.

Although the expanded Backrooms run was a temporary special engagement, its ripple effects on Chiang Rai’s entertainment and service sectors were evident. Organizers plan to continue indie film activities and additional special screenings of foreign films so Chiang Rai can be known not only for nature and culture tourism but also as a destination for movie lovers seeking different cinematic experiences.