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Altergeist

Name: Altergeist
Director: Tedi Sarafian
Released: 2014
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

4.1/10

Fair

2014

Director

Tedi Sarafian

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Altergeist is a genre-driven thriller that emphasizes supernatural tension and psychological struggles over social issues. It uses established horror clichés without trying to disrupt them through progressive themes. The film highlights Theresa Augland’s professional authority, but it stays focused on conventional biological stakes. The cast offers some racial diversity, but the depth of these characters isn’t fully explored. Overall, the film adheres to standard Western storytelling structures. It functions as a traditional supernatural mystery without engaging with multi-layered identity politics or systemic critiques.

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Category Breakdown

Does Altergeist have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film doesn't show any explicit LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships. It follows traditional assumptions about straight relationships without challenging these norms.

How does Altergeist portray gender?

Fair

Theresa Augland is a strong leader who plays a key role in the story. However, her pregnancy introduces typical horror movie themes of maternal vulnerability.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Altergeist?

Fair

The cast includes diverse actors like Alexis Cruz and Sarah Oh. While not a majority of non-white actors, the casting moves away from purely homogeneous casts seen in similar films.

How does Altergeist represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story focuses on Western genre conventions involving a winery and paranormal investigation. It doesn't critique systemic issues or offer socio-political commentary.

Does Altergeist include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities prominently featured. No characters use neurodivergence or chronic illness as central plot points.

Present on Screen

The lead character, Theresa Augland, plays a central role in the story.
The cast features diverse actors like Alexis Cruz and Sarah Oh.

Limited or Absent

The film follows traditional assumptions about straight relationships and lacks LGBTQ+ representation.
Pregnancy introduces typical horror themes of maternal vulnerability.
The story doesn’t engage with systemic critiques or socio-political commentary.

Official Synopsis

Tedi Sarafian, writer of TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES and TANK GIRL makes his feature directorial debut with this horror/sci-fi thriller based on true events. King’s Ransom Winery is known as one of the most haunted places in North America. Gruesome suicides and murders, suspicious fires, and strange otherworldly phenomena have occurred with disturbing frequency throughout the dark history of the estate, all linked back to a past shocking slaughter where the victim was stabbed thirteen times. And that unlucky number has appeared a constant throughout every unexplained bizarre incident. Now a group of six paranormal investigators have been given 48-hour weekend access to the winery to conduct a search for evidence of the other side. Soon they begin to see things and witness strange happenings causing each to act out of character as a sinister presence forces long-buried memories and deep-seated fears to bubble to the surface.

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