I honestly didn't get that the redheaded Still Life was Barbara on my first watch, but that's so smart that it pisses me off I didn't think of that. Regardless, it's SO interesting to me that when we first see her, she's holding her scalp, and then when we next see her, she gets scalped. All of the text in the Backrooms is reversed after all. Maybe time progresses nonlinearly in the same way mental illness does. The Backrooms are a stand in for a collective unconscious, so it would make sense for me. Of course, it would also make sense as a hint to the fact that Clark is abusive and has done something like this before. When Captain Clark appears, the Still Life runs into the corner in horror. Clearly, he's done something to her to get her so scared.
It's also so clearly Jungian like I know I said that before but oh my God. It even has anima/animus with our two protagonists. Numinous, persona, synchronicity, shadow selves. I'll get into full essay mode later but holy shit.
Anyway, shoutout The Shining.
