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The Devil at Your Heels

Name: The Devil at Your Heels
Director: Robert Fortier
Released: 1981
Duration: 103 min

Representation Score

3.1/10

Limited

1981

Director

Robert Fortier

Runtime

103 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film serves as a biographical account of a specialized technical achievement. It prioritizes the logistics of stunt performance and physical mastery over social issues. Because the subject matter involves high-stakes mechanical engineering and dangerous stunts, the narrative reinforces traditional masculine ability to act. The focus remains on the individualistic heroism of Ken Carter. Ultimately, the documentary lacks depth in representing multiple aspects of identity. It does not aim to challenge social hierarchies, focusing instead on a singular pursuit of physical and financial success.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Devil at Your Heels have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on Ken Carter's pursuit of a stunt and does not include any LGBTQ characters or stories about non-straight identities.

How does The Devil at Your Heels portray gender?

Limited

The documentary centers on a male protagonist involved in traditionally masculine activities. Female characters have little presence or ability to act in the physical and technical narrative.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Devil at Your Heels?

Limited

The story follows a single protagonist with a homogeneous cast. There is no mention of a diverse cast or multicultural supporting community.

How does The Devil at Your Heels represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film highlights Western values such as individualism and determination. It showcases the mastery of the physical environment through engineering and economic growth.

Does The Devil at Your Heels include disability representation?

Minimal

The narrative emphasizes extreme physical performance and the optimization of the body. Characters with disabilities are not represented or given ability to act.

Present on Screen

Offers a detailed look at the logistical complexities of high-stakes stunt performance.
Captures the intense preparation and engineering required for extreme physical feats.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of diverse gender identities and women's ability to drive the story.
Does not include multicultural perspectives or diverse supporting casts.
Provides no representation of neurodivergent individuals or people with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Devil at Your Heels, traces the trials of stuntman Ken Carter who attempts a death-defying aerial jump in a car. Not content with a normal jump, Ken Carter attempts a jump from Canada to the USA. This feature-length documentary shines a light on the intense preparation that led to Carter’s first attempt to jump a car across a mile-wide stretch of the St. Lawrence River – a 5-year period during which the dare-devil raised a million dollars, erected a 10-storey take-off ramp and built a rocket-powered car. Winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Feature Length Documentary at the 4th Genie Awards in 1983.

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