BACKROOMS ANALYSIS (spoiler warning)
I love the concept of a flawed and abusive character becoming dependent on an environment where they are the only one with autonomy. Clark found what he wanted; an easy escape where he could run away from his problems and never have to reflect on how his actions affect people. Somewhere he could hide forever with no confrontation. A place full of people with no conscience who he can treat as objects. To him it is better than the actual world, despite lacking any form of geniune human connection or meaning. I think this movie is about finding an easy way out, knowing you could leave the world behind, and not giving into it. Mary learns to leave him to his vices in order to save herself, that there is nothing she can do and she will end up trapped if she keeps attempting to help a man who doesn’t want to change. She maintains a metaphorically abusive relationship with Clark out of pity and her obligation as a therapist, and escapes by refusing to give into his demands. She gets to live while he literally tears himself apart with his decisions, and she has to come to terms with the fact that there was nothing she could have done.
