16 Comments
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Aug Stone's avatar

I still get anxiety remembering standing in front of an impenetrable wall in one of the Zorks and having no idea what to do about it

Jim Ruland's avatar

Did you ever play Suspended?

Jim Ruland's avatar

It's like Zork but instead of moving the world you're stuck in suspended animation and control seven different robots that can do different things: see, hear, pick things up, etc. It's crazy making.

Aug Stone's avatar

I shuddered just reading that

DesertHorror's avatar

Worth the wait!

jamilah's avatar

On Backrooms... When we saw it last night, i was thinking of you.

As a person who consistently interprets films (and not having seen the original youtube series the film was based on), i interpret the 'backrooms' to be the grief and trauma both Clark and Mary are continually stuck in. Clark is repeating the cycle of abuse that was performed on him; and Mary, as a therapist, perhaps figured she was able to heal from her childhood trauma, but dealing with Clark triggered a lot in herself.

i saw Clark as also exploring the 'men not feeling heard' conversation that's been a bit more widespread in recent years, and the externalization of trauma which occurs. Mary, socialized as, and moving through the world as a woman, seems more inclined to internalize the trauma.

i have no idea if my interpretation is correct (and i haven't seen any reviews or discussion of the film yet), but this is my take on it.

Jim Ruland's avatar

I can definitely see that. I don’t think it’s a matter of correct or incorrect. A film like that is wiiiiiide open to interpretation.

Rudy Marquez's avatar

Good stuff. Bad Vibrations. The title to my favorite Black Angels song.

Jim Ruland's avatar

Thank you! Also the title to one of my favorite Smogtown songs.

Gary Trujillo's avatar

I thought it was entertaining as well. I kind of figured I'd like it considering I love urban explorer and dead mall videos. Kind of the same vibe.

Jim Ruland's avatar

Yeah same. So many entry points.

slower and (slightly) louder's avatar

I used to travel a lot for work and often found myself at a La Quinta in Lafayette Louisiana, I was always the only person there who didn't work for Wal-Mart. It was always an odd experience seeing people in the same blue vests and khaki pants no matter when I was there

Smitty Hines's avatar

One of the things I really enjoyed about Backrooms is that I also felt like I was being chased in some of the scenes. I highly recommend watching some of Kane Pixels series for Backrooms on Youtube. It predates the movie, and gives a bit more of that world.

Blake Butler's avatar

nice Zork reference - perfect - great write up

Jim Ruland's avatar

Thank you, Blake!