City in the Rain (2027)
The climactic ballroom confrontation between Maria, Cindy, and Dr. Malkinson that would become one of cinema's most devastating sequencesCity in the Rain is a 2027 psychological horror film directed by Ari Aster and written by Jane Goldman. It serves as the final installment in The Backrooms Trilogy, following NoCliped (2022) and Wanderer (2024). The film stars Jenna Ortega as Maria Diaz, Emma Myers as Cindy Reynolds, and Jack Nicholson as Dr. Arnold Malkinson, with David Tennant returning as James Reynolds. Released worldwide on October 13, 2027, the film received universal acclaim for its emotional depth, devastating narrative turns, and groundbreaking visual effects.
Plot
The film opens immediately following the events of Wanderer, with Dr. Malkinson delivering a chilling monologue to the Party Host in the depths of Level 11. He reveals how his experiments led to the creation of humanoid Partygoers, who now control their more primitive, balloon-carrying counterparts. With a sinister laugh that Jack Nicholson would later describe as "the sound of a man who's lost his last shred of humanity," Malkinson reveals that Cindy Reynolds is his "special experiment."
The narrative follows Maria and Cindy's harrowing journey through the Backrooms, traversing multiple levels until they reach the endless wheat fields of Level 10. Their relationship deepens as they face increasingly dangerous entities and environments, including a terrifying encounter with the Level 9 Neighborhood Watch, where they discover evidence of Malkinson's early experiments.
In one of the film's most poignant scenes, Maria proposes to Cindy in an abandoned farmhouse on Level 10, a moment of pure joy that becomes devastating in retrospect. The scene, shot in warm golden hues contrasting with the film's predominantly cold color palette, serves as the emotional core of their relationship.
The Level 11 Arc
Upon reaching Level 11, Cindy reunites with her father James Reynolds in a scene that required fifteen takes due to its emotional intensity. Meanwhile, Dr. Malkinson prepares his assault on the Major Explorer Group (M.E.G.) headquarters, revealing his ultimate plan to merge the Backrooms with the Frontrooms (our reality) and rule as a god.
Malkinson introduces Liquid Pain, a new substance created by combining Almond Water, Cashew Water, and Royal Rations. The revelation that he has been secretly dosing Cindy with this concoction throughout her time in the Backrooms serves as one of the film's most chilling moments.
The assault on the M.E.G. headquarters showcased some of the most complex practical effects ever attempted in horror cinemaThe Final Night
The night before the final confrontation, Maria and Cindy share their last peaceful moments together in their Level 11 quarters. The scene plays out in near silence, with only ambient sounds and minimal dialogue, allowing Ortega and Myers’ performances to convey volumes through subtle gestures and expressions.
The Ballroom Sequence
The climactic confrontation takes place in a Level 11 ballroom reminiscent of the one from Level 5 where Maria first encountered the Beast of Level 5. Cindy manages to slay the Party Host with the Vorpal Sword, but exposure to Party Punch triggers a catastrophic reaction with the Liquid Pain in her system. Her transformation into the Party Queen, as Malkinson had planned all along, forces Maria to make an impossible choice.
The farewell scene between Maria and Cindy has been praised as one of the most heartbreaking sequences in modern cinema, with Ortega and Myers’ performances earning particular acclaim. Cindy's final words, "Don't let him win," become Maria's driving force in the film's final act.
The Final Battle
The destruction of Level 11 triggers a cascade of dimensional collapse, forcing Maria to pursue Malkinson through multiple levels of the Backrooms. Their final confrontation on Level 0, where the trilogy began, brings the story full circle, with Maria destroying Malkinson with the Vorpal Sword, in a sense allowing Cindy to achieve a post-mortem revenge against her murderer. Maria's victory comes at a terrible cost, leaving her emotionally shattered as she returns to the Frontrooms.
Production
The film's production was marked by several unusual occurrences, including the Edinburgh Incident during early filming. The cast and crew reported experiencing intense emotional reactions during filming, with several members requiring counseling after completing particularly challenging scenes.
The visual effects team developed new techniques to portray the merging of Backrooms and Frontrooms, creating what they called "dimensional bleeding" effects that have since become industry standard. The practical effects used in Cindy's transformation sequence took six months to perfect.
Reception and Legacy
City in the Rain received universal acclaim, with particular praise for its emotional depth and technical achievements. Jenna Ortega's portrayal of Maria earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the youngest recipient in that category. The film's exploration of grief, love, and sacrifice in an impossible situation resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike.
The film's ambiguous ending, with Maria hearing Cindy's voice and choosing to return to the Backrooms, has sparked years of debate and analysis. This deliberate ambiguity, combined with the trilogy's overarching themes of reality versus perception, has cemented The Backrooms Trilogy's place in horror cinema history.
See Also
- The Backrooms Trilogy
- Dr. Arnold Malkinson
- Party Queen Protocol
- Dimensional Bleeding Theory
- Level 11 Collapse Event
References
- Goldman, Jane. "Writing the Unwritable: The Backrooms Trilogy" (2028)
- "The Making of City in the Rain" Documentary (2028)
- Aster, Ari. "Director's Commentary: City in the Rain" (2028)
- "The Backrooms Phenomenon: A Cultural Analysis" (2029)