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The Doll

Name: The Doll
Director: Susannah O'Brien
Released: 2017
Duration: 80 min

Representation Score

4.2/10

Fair

2017

TV-MA

Director

Susannah O'Brien

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Doll primarily adheres to the well-established visual language of Western sci-fi horror. It stands out by placing female leadership at the helm of a traditionally masculine genre, thereby shifting power dynamics through its central characters. However, the film lacks deep complexity in representing diverse social identities. It focuses on familiar genre clichés like the 'mad scientist' rather than exploring multi-layered themes. While the film successfully challenges traditional gendered power structures, it falls short in providing significant representation for LGBTQ+ identities, diverse racial backgrounds, or disabilities.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Doll have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any non-straight or non-cisgender identities. There are no queer-coded character arcs or storylines centered around LGBTQ+ experiences.

How does The Doll portray gender?

Fair

The film features a predominantly female cast and a female director, which challenges the typical male-centric perspective of the slasher genre. The main female characters have significant, powerful roles rather than passive ones.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Doll?

Fair

The cast follows a standard distribution common in niche genre films. The film does not show any effort to include diverse racial backgrounds or challenge Anglo-centric norms.

How does The Doll represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film explores themes of artificial identity and commodification through its laboratory setting. However, it does not explicitly critique Western institutions or cultural norms.

Does The Doll include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities. There are no plot devices centered around such characters.

Present on Screen

Female leadership in a traditionally male-dominated horror and sci-fi genre.
Challenging traditional power dynamics through female-led casting.
Central female characters have significant and powerful roles.

Limited or Absent

Lack of diverse racial and ethnic representation.
Absence of LGBTQ+ identities or queer-coded character development.
No visible representation of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

When Chris and Andy order a model from an escort service, they find that something is unnaturally wrong with Natasha, something deadly wrong.

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