20 tacks
Glitched into empty space: why video games are obsessed with the Backrooms
The horror movie sensation of 2026 has its roots in gaming’s discovery of ‘noclip’ – and the hidden virtual realms that could be opened up inside games. Developers explain how everyone got lost in these liminal spaces It starts on 4chan, in a May 2019 thread entitled “unsettling images”.
Why this photo has been terrifying the internet for years
The Backrooms began as an unsettling image of an empty, yellow, fluorescent-lit room posted online in 2019, inspiring collaborative horror fiction, games and videos. Its appeal lies in its ambiguity: familiar spaces made frighteningly unfamiliar. YouTube filmmaker Kane Parsons expanded the concept through popular found-footage shorts and now directs A24’s feature adaptation. Rather than relying on obvious monsters, the film preserves the Backrooms’ psychological dread, mystery and open-ended possibilities.
Screenmaxxing: why Hollywood is supersizing the big screen experience
Theatrical exhibition is embracing “screenmaxxing,” offering premium large-format (PLF) auditoriums with enhanced picture and sound quality to attract moviegoers. Disney’s InfinityVision certification aims to reassure viewers of the quality of non-Imax PLF options. While HDR by Barco and other new technologies promise improved visuals, the true value lies in the perception of an upgraded experience, potentially driving audiences back to cinemas.
Why Is Everyone Running In Rom-Coms?
The Nerdwriter1 video explores why the classic romantic-comedy trope of someone running to declare their love resonates so strongly. It argues that such scenes externalise an inner emotional drama and reflect a deeper modern desire for meaning. As traditional shared moral frameworks weakened after the 1700s, individuals began seeking purpose through personal narratives, a shift reflected in the rise of the novel. Romantic love became a cultural “quest” promising fulfillment and identity, offering a comforting, simplified fantasy in an uncertain modern world. 
Sick of reboots? How ‘nostalgia bait’ profits off Millennial and Gen Z’s childhood memories
Nostalgia can provide emotional relief during times of stress, a fact which the entertainment industry takes full advantage of to profit off of the anxiety of Millenials and Gen Z.
‘Scary’ new tech alarming Aussies
A hot new technology trend was on everyone's lips at the world's biggest consumer electronics show this week â?? as well as being embedded in half the new gadgets on display.
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