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As Above, So Below

Name: As Above, So Below
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Released: 2014
Duration: 93 min

Representation Score

4.2/10

Fair

2014

Director

John Erick Dowdle

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film primarily functions as a high-tension thriller, emphasizing atmospheric horror over social or demographic representation. It challenges traditional gender roles by featuring a highly capable female lead who maintains control over her male counterparts. However, the narrative remains largely homogeneous. The absence of racial, LGBTQ+, and disability-focused storylines limits the film's broader social impact. Ultimately, while the film offers a progressive perspective through its female protagonist, it lacks the depth needed to address a wider range of social issues.

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Category Breakdown

Does As Above, So Below have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight relationships. The interpersonal dynamics focus on professional survival and the core team's mission.

How does As Above, So Below portray gender?

Good

Scarlett is the main intellectual and tactical leader of the group. She often has more influence than the male characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is As Above, So Below?

Limited

The cast is mostly white, and the film does not explore racial diversity or address historical colonial themes through the Parisian setting.

How does As Above, So Below represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story uses moral relativism to make characters confront personal sins, focusing on individual psychological issues rather than broader religious or cultural critiques.

Does As Above, So Below include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not intentionally represent visible or invisible disabilities. Psychological distress is shown as a response to supernatural events rather than a reflection of lived experience.

Present on Screen

Challenges the 'male leader' cliché by making the female lead the most competent and goal-oriented member of the team.
Features a strong female protagonist with significant intellectual and tactical influence.

Limited or Absent

Lacks racial and ethnic diversity among the cast members.
Does not include LGBTQ+ identities or perspectives on non-straight relationships.
Misses opportunities to represent neurodivergence or the lived experiences of disability.

Official Synopsis

When a team of explorers venture into the catacombs that lie beneath the streets of Paris, they uncover the dark secret that lies within this city of the dead.

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