Faithspotting Double Feature "Obsession and The Backrooms"

Mike and Kenny offer a double feature episode as they discuss and spot faith presented in the two box office leading supernatural horror films Obsession and Backrooms. Both films are directed by first time feature film directors Curry Barker (Obsession) and Kane Parsons (Backrooms.) Barker (26) and Parsons (20) gained very large followings by directing shorts on YouTube and represent new voices and ways of making and distributing films.

Obsession stars Michael Johnston (Baron "Bear" Bailey) and Inde Navarette (Nikki Freeman) with costars Cooper Tomlinson (Ian) and Megan Lawless Sarah). Inspired by an episode of The Simpsons (The Monkee Claw) the story is a modern parable on being careful what you ask or pray for. Bear is very attracted to Nikki yet is afraid to share his feelings to her, and allow her to decide how to respond, so in a moment of frustration he makes a wish using a novelty item, "One Wish Willow" which promises to grant the owner one wish. He wishes she would love him more than anyone in the world. The wish is granted and she immediately responds and quickly becomes obsessed with Bear.

Faith Reflections:

The destructive nature of obsession which equates with idolatry and coveting. Obsession grows from a desire to own and control and within relationships removes the agency of the target of the obsession. Love cannot be compelled. God offers every person the freedom to accept and return God's love. Romans 1:24-32 reflects the result when persons do not follow the example of God, and in this case is a perversion of the nature of love which seeks to build community, which reflect the essence, nature and desire of God.

Backrooms stars Chiwetel Ejiofor (Clark) and Renate Reinsve (in a Dr. Mary Kline). Clark is seeing Mary for therapy as he seeks to work through his anger, grief, from his divorce. Mary is also dealing with trauma resulting from her mother's mental illness and distance. Clarke owns a failing discounted furniture store which is adding to his struggles and further fueling his struggle with alchohol. Clarke discovers an entry into a new realm of endless backrooms that are littered with pieces of furniture, cardboard people as well as other entities. Clarke tells Mary of his discovery and she does not believe him. In an effort to help Clarke, Mary visits the store and finds herself lost in the backrooms and chased by an entity.

Faith Reflections:

Liminality, the margins of new space and time. These can be very uncomfortable times and places. Living in the liminal time between the inauguration of God's Kingdom through the birth of Jesus, and the fulfillment of Kingdom, there is confusion, anxiety. While created in the image and likeness of God, through sin and the brokenness of creation, humanity is a deformed replica of what God created.