PVR INOX Partners with Khooni Monday & HorrorCon India

NEW DELHI: The walls between YouTube and the big screen are getting thinner. In a move that highlights the growing power of creator-led entertainment, PVR INOX Pictures has teamed up with Khooni Monday and HorrorCon India to launch an immersive theatrical premiere for Backrooms, transforming a traditional movie screening into a full-scale horror experience.

The special event will take place on 10 June at Select Citywalk in Saket, where audiences will be invited to step directly into the unsettling world of the film through interactive installations, themed activations and fan-focused engagement zones.

The collaboration builds on the success of the trio’s earlier immersive screening of Hokum, which drew strong audience interest and demonstrated a growing appetite among Indian moviegoers for experiences that extend beyond the screen. This time, organisers are aiming for a larger and more scalable format designed to deepen audience participation.

Backed by acclaimed studio A24, Backrooms has emerged as one of the most talked-about horror properties in recent years. The film evolved from an internet phenomenon built around “liminal spaces” and mysterious found-footage storytelling. Directed by 20-year-old filmmaker Kane Parsons, creator of the viral YouTube project Kane Pixels, the film leveraged a massive online fanbase long before arriving in cinemas.

The YouTube series attracted hundreds of millions of views, helping the feature adaptation build an unusually strong connection with horror enthusiasts worldwide. Industry observers view the film as one of the clearest examples yet of how digital-native intellectual property can successfully make the leap to mainstream cinema.

Fans attending the Delhi premiere can expect a range of themed attractions. Visitors will be welcomed into a simulated containment zone by a character dressed in the iconic yellow hazmat suit featured in the film. The venue will also house a half-human installation inspired by imagery from the movie, along with an abandoned furniture tower recreating one of the franchise’s most recognisable visual motifs.

Several interactive photo opportunities and social media-friendly horror zones will also be available, reflecting the event’s focus on fan participation and community engagement.

Adding another layer to the evening, attendees will be able to join a live discussion hosted by Khooni Monday founder and chief executive officer Divay Agarwal. The session will explore hidden clues, fan theories and narrative mysteries from the Backrooms universe while encouraging audience participation.

Speaking about the growing importance of community-driven storytelling, Divay Agarwal said the success of Backrooms stems from its ability to engage communities already active across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Reddit. He noted that the project reflects a broader shift from simply broadcasting content to actively participating in fan culture.

Agarwal added that while horror has traditionally been experienced collectively, cinemas have often treated it as an individual viewing experience. According to him, immersive screenings are helping change that dynamic by making audiences part of the story rather than passive observers.

Echoing that sentiment, PVR INOX Pictures senior film marketer Vijit said the response to Hokum showed audiences increasingly want experiences that go beyond simply watching a film. He said the Backrooms event aims to create a scalable model that reimagines how theatrical entertainment can be consumed.

The partnership also reflects a broader industry trend. As younger audiences seek deeper connections with the stories and creators they follow online, cinema operators and entertainment companies are experimenting with new formats that blend fandom, live experiences and traditional film exhibition.

For PVR INOX, HorrorCon India and Khooni Monday, the Backrooms premiere is more than a film screening. It is a test case for the future of experiential cinema in India, where the audience is no longer just watching the story unfold but becoming part of it.