If you've spent any time on the internet in the last few years, you've probably stumbled across the Backrooms — that unsettling creepypasta concept of endless, empty liminal spaces that feel like you accidentally glitched through the floor of reality. Well, A24, the studio that somehow makes artsy horror profitable, is turning it into a feature film. And they're shooting right here in the Bay Area.

Specifically, San Jose's own Cap'n Clark's Ottoman Empire — yes, that's a real store name — appears prominently in the trailer as the setting for the first "noclipping" scene, the moment where a character slips through the fabric of normal reality into the Backrooms. The store has even gotten the full marketing treatment, with a commercial airing on Pluto TV that doubles as viral promotion for the film.

Say what you will about A24's sometimes pretentious catalog, but the studio knows how to stretch a dollar and generate buzz without nine-figure marketing budgets. That's something we can respect. Using a quirky local business as a set piece instead of building some massive soundstage in Hollywood? That's efficient filmmaking and free publicity for a Bay Area small business.

This is also a nice reminder that the South Bay isn't just server farms and corporate campuses. San Jose has been quietly building cultural credibility, and having A24 choose a local storefront for one of their most anticipated horror projects doesn't hurt.

The bigger picture: the Bay Area film economy has been losing ground to places like Atlanta and Vancouver for years, largely thanks to California's tax environment and cost of doing business. Every production that chooses to shoot locally is a small win — creating jobs, driving foot traffic, and putting local spots on the map.

We'll be watching to see if A24 delivers on the Backrooms concept. In the meantime, Cap'n Clark's Ottoman Empire just became the most interesting furniture store in Northern California.