You are here:
Making Contact

Making Contact

1985

PG

Director

Roland Emmerich

Runtime

94 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

A nine year old boy named Joey, who after the tragic death of his father, begins to experience psychic powers such as allowing him to move inanimate objects with his mind, set things on fire, and even communicate with his dead father. However, not everything is good for Joey as his newly gained powers accidentally awake an evil supernatural force that is contained inside the body of an old ventriloquist's dummy that Joey found in an abandoned house. The supernatural Dummy shows similar powers to Joey's, and soon he puts the lives of everyone near Joey in danger as the evil Dummy has dark plans for Joey's special powers.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

2.8/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The story focuses entirely on a young boy's psychic journey and his connection to his late father. No non-heteronormative identities or queer narratives are present.

Gender Representation

Limited

The narrative centers on a male protagonist navigating a masculine-coded journey of power. There is no indication of female characters possessing high agency or subverting gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The plot suggests a localized, character-driven drama without mention of a diverse cast. The setting appears conventional and potentially homogeneous in its ethnic makeup.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The film follows standard genre tropes of moral dualism and good versus evil. It does not appear to prioritize secularism or critique specific Western institutions.

Disability Representation

Fair

Psychic abilities are framed as supernatural powers rather than lived experiences of disability. No characters with disabilities drive the plot through their own agency.

Strengths

  • The protagonist's psychic abilities offer a potential, if unintentional, lens for exploring neurodivergence or invisible abilities.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks diverse casting and fails to include varied ethnic or cultural perspectives.
  • The focus on a single male protagonist limits the presence of female agency and gender diversity.
  • There is a complete absence of LGBTQ+ representation or non-heteronormative storylines.

AI Analysis

The film follows a traditional mid-1980s genre structure, prioritizing a linear conflict between a child and a supernatural entity. This narrow focus on a singular protagonist limits the opportunity for intersectional representation or the disruption of social hierarchies. The narrative relies on established cinematic tropes of grief and supernatural struggle. Because the story is built around a specific hero's journey, it lacks the breadth required to explore diverse social identities or varied cultural perspectives.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.