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The First Wave

Name: The First Wave
Director: David Freyne
Released: 2014
Duration: 7 min

Representation Score

4.0/10

Fair

2014

TV-G

Director

David Freyne

Runtime

7 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film focuses mainly on survivalist mechanics in a genre-driven horror setting. By placing a female protagonist at the center, it avoids some traditional clichés. However, it does not make a broader effort to represent diverse social identities or cultural nuances. The film provides a neutral baseline for diversity but does not actively engage with queer, racial, or disability-focused narratives.

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Category Breakdown

Does The First Wave have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or stories about queer identity. The focus is solely on surviving a viral outbreak.

How does The First Wave portray gender?

Fair

A young woman serves as the main character, challenging typical male-dominated horror clichés by giving her a central role in the story.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The First Wave?

Fair

Details about the cast and character compositions are not provided. Therefore, it is unclear if there is any representation of non-white actors.

How does The First Wave represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story uses an outbreak cliché that questions trust in medical or government institutions. However, it does not explore any specific cultural or religious themes.

Does The First Wave include disability representation?

Minimal

The main character starts off in a hospital bed, indicating she is physically vulnerable. It is unclear if her disability is shown positively or used merely as a plot device.

Present on Screen

The film challenges typical horror clichés by featuring a female protagonist in a high-stakes survival scenario.
The lead character takes initiative and uncovers the reasons behind the outbreak.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks explicit LGBTQ+ representation or engagement with non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities.
There is no clear indication of intentional racial or ethnic diversity within the cast.
The film does not actively question social hierarchies or offer deeper cultural insights.

Official Synopsis

Following the outbreak of an aggressive virus, a young woman awakes in a hospital bed. As the horrifying events that led her there are revealed, it becomes clear that the cure is just the beginning. This short film is a prequel for the feature film, The Third Wave, which was written at the Binger FilmLab 2012. The project also won the Best Story Pitch award at the Edinburgh Film Festival, June 2012.

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