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Abstruse

Name: Abstruse
Director: Harley Wallen
Released: 2019
Duration: 117 min

Representation Score

2.2/10

Limited

2019

Director

Harley Wallen

Runtime

117 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Abstruse is a character-driven crime thriller that adheres closely to established genre conventions. While it avoids the 'damsel in distress' cliché by giving Amanda a complex arc of accusation, it remains tied to traditional patriarchal structures through the father's investigative role. The film lacks depth in representing diverse identities, offering no characters with LGBTQ+ identities or disabilities. The casting and narrative focus appear to follow standard, non-diverse patterns for the genre.

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Category Breakdown

Does Abstruse have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or themes related to queer identities. The story revolves around a female protagonist's legal battle without addressing non-cisgender identities.

How does Abstruse portray gender?

Fair

Amanda gains a significant role in driving the story by evolving from a victim to a central figure in a legal conflict. However, the plot relies heavily on a paternal figure to drive the investigation.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Abstruse?

Limited

The cast list suggests a conventional casting pattern typical of the crime-thriller genre. There is no indication of diverse ethnic ensembles or non-white representation.

How does Abstruse represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story critiques the instability of truth and institutional records. It follows traditional Western narrative structures centered on a father-daughter dynamic and legal investigation.

Does Abstruse include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The narrative does not address neurodivergence or chronic health conditions.

Present on Screen

The protagonist, Amanda, gains a significant role in driving the story by transitioning from a passive victim to a central figure in a legal conflict.
The plot explores themes of systemic corruption and the unreliability of institutional truth.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and characters with disabilities.
The reliance on a paternal figure to resolve the conflict reinforces traditional patriarchal narrative structures.
The cast and setting appear to follow conventional, non-diverse casting patterns for the genre.

Official Synopsis

Two young women get themselves into a very compromising situation that proves life changing, the aftermath is almost worse as all trails of the event has been wiped out and all of a sudden the tables turn and Amanda goes from being the victim to the accused. Amanda's father decides to look into it only to realize it's much bigger than they first anticipated.

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