
Hollywood's New Blood
1988

Representation Score
Limited
2007
Director
Charles Band
Runtime
80 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
Dead Man's Hand is a traditional horror film that emphasizes genre clichés and supernatural elements over exploring identity. The narrative follows well-established patterns of mobster lore and vengeance, adhering to conventional cinematic structures without challenging them. The film does not intentionally address the overlapping aspects of identity or disrupt social hierarchies. It operates as a standard genre piece, focusing on the mechanics of a haunted casino and the conflict between good and evil.
Category Breakdown
The story revolves around a traditional heterosexual relationship between Matthew and J.J. There are no hints of queer subtext or non-cisgender identities in the narrative.
The plot is driven by male figures, such as the protagonist and the mobsters. Although J.J. is a key character, her role is closely tied to the male lead's journey.
The film focuses on a group of friends in a typical American setting. There is no indication of a predominantly non-white cast or diverse ethnic backgrounds.
The film uses Western clichés like haunted locations and mobster revenge. It sets a casino as the backdrop for supernatural conflict without critiquing societal institutions.
While Michael Berryman is part of the cast, there is no evidence that disability plays a central role in the narrative or provides a tool for character's ability to drive the story.
Present on Screen
Limited or Absent
Official Synopsis
After inheriting a casino from his dead uncle, Matthew Dragna, his girl friend J.J. and a group of friends take a road trip to the outskirts of Las Vegas, where they find the run-down Mysteria Casino. But the trip takes a frightening turn when the kids discover that the casino is haunted by the ghosts of Vegas mobsters Roy "The Word" Donahue and his goon Gil Wachetta, looking to settle an old score. Matthew and J.J. must fight for their very souls as the ghosts seek their gruesome vengeance, and in the vein of The Shining, this horrifying tale builds to a bloody and surprising climax.

1988

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