You are here:

Atomica

Atomica

Representation Score

6.6/10

Good

2017

Not Rated

Director

Dagen Merrill

Runtime

81 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Atomica stands out by centering its narrative on a female safety inspector with significant technical authority, challenging the typical male-dominated science fiction landscape. However, the film falls short in other areas of representation. The cast remains largely homogeneous, and the exploration of psychological instability serves the thriller plot rather than offering nuanced insights into disability or neurodivergence. Ultimately, while the film provides a critique of corporate power, it stays within traditional cinematic boundaries, prioritizing suspense over the subversion of social hierarchies or multi-layered complexity.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Atomica have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film centers on the professional and psychological tension between the protagonist and technicians, without depicting non-cisgender identities or same-sex relationships. The character dynamics adhere to conventional heterosexual norms.

How does Atomica portray gender?

Good

Abby Dixon is a key female protagonist in a high-stakes technical role. Her actions drive the mission, challenging the common science fiction cliché of the male expert. She is portrayed as an authoritative figure in a remote environment.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Atomica?

Fair

The immediate focus is on a relatively homogeneous group of characters. Although the plot involves global energy conglomerates, the cast does not include a diverse range of ethnicities. There is no significant evidence of diverse casting.

How does Atomica represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story critiques corporate dominance and the systemic neglect found in industrial 'red zones.' It explores the conflict between centralized capitalist institutions and a volatile global landscape. However, it relies heavily on standard thriller clichés.

Does Atomica include disability representation?

Limited

The plot uses psychological instability and questions of sanity to create suspense. These elements serve as tools for tension rather than providing nuanced portrayals of neurodivergence or mental health with significant roles.

Present on Screen

  • Centers a female protagonist in a high-stakes, authoritative technical role.
  • Challenges the 'male-as-expert' cliché common in the science fiction genre.
  • Provides a critique of corporate hegemony and systemic industrial neglect.

Limited or Absent

  • Lacks diverse casting to represent a more globalized or non-white population.
  • Uses psychological instability as a suspense tool rather than nuanced disability representation.
  • Fails to include explicit LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender character dynamics.

Official Synopsis

In the near future, when communications go offline at a remote nuclear power plant isolated in the desert, a young safety inspector, Abby Dixon, is forced to fly out to bring them back online. Once inside the facility, mysterious clues and strange behaviors cause Abby to have doubts about the sanity, and perhaps identities, of the two employees onsite.

How are these scores produced? →

Where to Watch

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.