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The Tokoloshe

Name: The Tokoloshe
Director: Jerome Pikwane
Released: 2018
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

4.4/10

Fair

2018

Director

Jerome Pikwane

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film successfully disrupts Western-centric horror norms by grounding its terror in South African folklore and socioeconomic realities. By focusing on a underrepresented woman against a corrupt institution, it highlights systemic oppression. However, the narrative lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and provides insufficient evidence regarding the portrayal of disability or mental health issues. The focus remains heavily on the intersection of trauma and institutional corruption.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Tokoloshe have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any explicit references to LGBTQ+ characters or themes.

How does The Tokoloshe portray gender?

Good

Busi, the main character, plays a significant role in driving the plot. The film challenges traditional male dominance by depicting the male hospital manager as a corrupt and predatory figure.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Tokoloshe?

Excellent

The story focuses on a Black female protagonist set in Johannesburg. By incorporating local folklore, the film breaks away from Anglo-centric horror clichés and presents a uniquely South African perspective.

How does The Tokoloshe represent religion and culture?

Good

The film uses supernatural folklore to critique established institutions. It portrays the hospital hierarchy as inherently predatory, challenging the sanctity of Western-style professional structures.

Does The Tokoloshe include disability representation?

Minimal

It is unclear whether the protagonist's repressed emotions or the child's torment represent neurodivergence. These elements may serve as plot devices rather than nuanced depictions of disability.

Present on Screen

Strong subversion of traditional horror clichés through the use of indigenous South African folklore.
Effective centering of a Black female protagonist navigating complex socioeconomic and systemic struggles.
Nuanced critique of institutional corruption and the predatory nature of authority figures.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit representation for LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Uncertainty about whether mental health or neurodivergence is portrayed with genuine ability to act.
Limited scope in terms of diverse identity representation beyond race and gender.

Official Synopsis

Busi, a young destitute woman with dangerously repressed emotions, lands a job as a cleaner at a rundown hospital in the heart of Johannesburg. Desperate for the money so she can bring her younger sister to Johannesburg, she must cope despite the predatory and corrupt hospital manager. When Busi discovers an abandoned young girl in the hospital, who believes she is tormented by a supernatural force, Busi must face her own demons from her past in order to save the child from the abusive monster that pursues them both relentlessly.

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