This is a historical weekend in the world of film as A24’s new hit movie “Backrooms” opens in theaters around the world, already grossing an A24 record shattering $90 million dollars, surpassing their former leader’s opening gross at about 25 million. As of this writing, Saturday, the weekend is not even over yet. So far I’ve attended two showings of this movie in two different areas of California, both ending in applause from crowds.
At the heart of the blockbuster achievement is a young film maker named Kane Parsons, a 20 year old master of his craft from Northern California. Young Parsons is a director who marches to his own drum beat, unwilling to give up the genuine vibe from his long standing “Backrooms” You-tube series where he has over 3 millions of followers since the successful series began in early 2022.
His followers on You-tube will be pleased that the feature movie stays faithful to the spirit of what his films have engendered, really to a generation of, especially young people, who have matured in a cultural shakeup of the use of social media and gaming over the last 15 years.
This is quite significant because since the beginning of this wave approximately coincides with Kane when he was 6 years old. It was at that young age, he exhibited his natural passion in film producing. With his mature and practiced insight for filmmaking, he is coincidentally riding a tsunami of this societal shift in communication. He is a growing influencer in this new Age.
His new film “Backrooms” is not a brainless hacker slasher horror film. The actual effort of the collaboration of A24 and Kane’s critical story telling ability, makes developing characters noteworthy and more complex.The resultant acting brings out all the color and nuance and is quite pleasing to a wider spectrum of movie goer, for example, the emotional transitions and subtleties are adding to his film’s qualities.
The film’s lead actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve provide superb portrayals in a film that may be, by those who have not seen it, naively blown off as just another horror film. There is immense joy to see ones work blossom through the abilities of individuals using all their unique talents to bring a writer’s work to vibrant life.
Backroom’s qualities are NOT the result of a cookie-cutting machine that just wants to crunch out a brainless hacker slasher film to satisfy the most degenerate common denominator.
This truly comes back to the director who produces much more than his years would betray. Kane Parsons is a self-aware, unadulterated and clear-visioned artist. That’s a great start for a young man at the beginning of what looks like a very promising future for the record-ripping craftsman.
What about the Gospel?
With all the well deserved accolades said, my articles are about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would be remiss if I did not see a connection between the thoughtful and radically successful film, which is grounded in a secular science fiction and human suffering.
The Gospel meets people of all needs where ever they are.
Backrooms brings to light some serious human needs in lives that have been shattered by sin. For instance, childhood trauma, broken marriages, broken relationships, workaholism, loneliness, drunkenness, a desperate desire for purpose and meaning, souls crying out for connection, love and acceptance are all part of Backrooms.
O Yahweh, the God of my salvation,
I have cried out by day and throughout the night before You.
2 Let my prayer come before You;
Incline Your ear to my cry of lamentation!
3 For my soul has been saturated with calamities,
And my life has reached Sheol. – Psalm 88:1-3
“My soul is loathed by my life;” – begins Job 10
How long, O Yahweh, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, “Violence!”
Yet You do not save.
3 Why do You make me see wickedness
And cause me to look on trouble?
Indeed, devastation and violence are before me;
And there is strife, and contention is lifted up. – Habakkuk 1:2-3
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. – A prophesy of coming of the Lord Jesus Christ from Isaiah 53:3
“And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the witness which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Master, holy and true? Will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” – Revelation 6:9-10. Even the saints in heaven will be crying out for God’s ultimate justice on the earth as evil rear its ugly head in mass persecutions.
In the movie, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s, who plays the furniture store owner’s character named Clark, finds a moment of solace and acceptance in the altered-dimensional Backrooms, this hints that a place is required where humans can only in an altered dimension find ultimate peace for their weary souls.
On the other hand, the therapist portrayed by Renate Reinsve, is also confronted with an unresolved darkness that threatens to imprison her in life of fruitless professional pursuits.
The Lord Jesus promises joy, peace and fulfillment in the eternal kingdom in both relationships and with heavenly physical dwellings. Adoption and benefits of God’s eternal ingdom begin in this life’
Jesus Christ the hospitable Savior
14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. 7 If you have come to know Me, you will know My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” – John 14:1-7- these are eternal rewards of faith in the works of Jesus Christ and the power of the Gospel.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28. The main characters in the movie were striving to find a solution to their brokenness, a genuine light at the end of the tunnel of their works to achieve what only the Creator can provide, a lasting and eternal solution to humankinds deep seated problems.
In closing, Kane Parsons has great creative talents, A24 gave him an opportunity and he hit a homerun. In the Biblical perspective, all good gifts, particularly outstanding human talents are gifts from God. God is the Creator. Those who have talents are called to put their talents to good use for the kingdom of God. For his namesake, Parsons, may suggest both past and future great works for the Kingdom. This is a time when a captive generation is in need for the ultimate solution to the horrors of the liminal dimensions.
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel from the late Pastor John MacArthur, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
All quoted excerpts have footnotes removed, usually from Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), sometimes from New International Version (NIV), on rare occasion the Amplified Bible (AMP).
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