You are here:

Pharaoh's Curse

Name: Pharaoh's Curse
Director: Lee Sholem
Released: 1957
Duration: 66 min

Representation Score

1.7/10

Minimal

1957

Approved

Director

Lee Sholem

Runtime

66 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Pharaoh's Curse is a product of mid-century genre filmmaking that relies heavily on established social and cultural norms. The narrative structure follows standard horror conventions of the era, prioritizing suspense and the 'exotic' over complex character development. The film lacks depth in representing multiple aspects of identity, failing to challenge traditional power structures. Instead, it leans into the clichés of its time, such as Western-centric perspectives and traditional gender roles within an archaeological context. Ultimately, the work functions as a conventional genre piece that reflects the era's limited approach to diversity and representation.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Pharaoh's Curse have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any characters with non-straight sexual orientations or gender identities. It adheres to the strict assumption that everyone is straight, which was common in 1950s horror films.

How does Pharaoh's Curse portray gender?

Limited

The production likely reinforces traditional gender roles where men lead the intellectual and discovery aspects, while women play secondary or reactive roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Pharaoh's Curse?

Limited

Set in Egypt, the film likely uses Orientalist clichés. It focuses on Western protagonists exploring an exotic landscape, often reducing local populations to minor roles.

How does Pharaoh's Curse represent religion and culture?

Limited

The ancient curse serves as a typical Western horror threat. This framing emphasizes a Western-centric perspective rather than presenting cultural nuances or moral relativism.

Does Pharaoh's Curse include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with disabilities who have significant roles. Transformations, such as the blood-sucking mummy, serve as instruments of terror rather than meaningful representations of lived experience.

Present on Screen

The Egyptian setting offers a non-Western backdrop for the horror narrative.

Limited or Absent

The film relies on Orientalist clichés that reduce the roles of local populations.
Gender roles appear restricted to traditional, non-challenging hierarchies.
The narrative lacks LGBTQ+ representation and diverse disability perspectives.
The portrayal of ancient culture serves primarily as a Western-centric threat.

Official Synopsis

Archaeologists in Egypt find one of their crew has been turned into a blood sucking mummy after they have unleashed a three thousand year curse.

How are these scores produced? →