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Plague

Name: Plague
Director: Ed Hunt
Released: 1979
Duration: 88 min

Representation Score

3.8/10

Limited

1979

Director

Ed Hunt

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Plague (1979) stands out for its significant commitment to racial visibility. By featuring an all-Black cast, the film breaks away from the predominantly white casts typical of the horror genre during this period. While the film successfully centers a non-white community, it adheres to conventional narrative structures regarding gender and disability. The female lead lacks significant influence over the story's direction, and physical impairment is used primarily to create tension rather than explore nuanced experiences of disability.

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Category Breakdown

Does Plague have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on a biological outbreak and pathogen survival. There are no representations of non-traditional gender identities or same-sex relationships.

How does Plague portray gender?

Limited

The female protagonist drives the plot but mainly serves as a carrier of the plague. She does not have much influence over the story's direction or her own fate.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Plague?

Excellent

The film features an all-Black cast, which contrasts with the predominantly white casts common in 1970s horror films. This highlights a Black community in a high-stakes biological thriller.

How does Plague represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story follows a standard survivalist plot focused on biological threats. It does not include specific critiques of Western institutions or cultural ideologies.

Does Plague include disability representation?

Limited

Physical suffering and bodily spasms are used as tools for creating tension in the film. These depictions serve the plot rather than exploring the lived experiences of those with disabilities.

Present on Screen

The all-Black cast provides meaningful visibility and challenges the predominantly white casts common in 1970s horror films.
The film centers a non-white community in a high-stakes thriller, offering a departure from typical homogeneous settings.

Limited or Absent

The female protagonist lacks significant influence over the story's direction, serving primarily as a carrier of the plague.
Physical impairment and bodily trauma are used as tools for creating tension rather than nuanced portrayals.
The film lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-traditional gender dynamics.

Official Synopsis

An outbreak of a bacteria called M-3 causes people to die in extreme pain via body spasms. A woman who is a carrier escapes from a hospital and goes on the run, spreading the plague to people she encounters, and onto food in fast food stops etc. She has no idea however that she is a carrier, and as such may carry a cure.

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