You are here:

Bunshinsaba: Hoichi The Earless

Name: Bunshinsaba: Hoichi The Earless
Director: River Huang
Released: 2021
Duration: 78 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

2021

Director

River Huang

Runtime

78 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film expands the scope of the horror genre by integrating Southeast Asian and East Asian folklore. By focusing on the Kuman Thong and the BiXian, it moves away from Anglo-centric storytelling clichés. While the film offers a culturally rich backdrop, it still lacks representation in other areas. There are no clear LGBTQ+ themes or specific neurodivergent characters driving the narrative. Overall, the work stands out by moving away from traditional Western supernatural clichés, opting for a complex, multi-cultural mythological framework.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Bunshinsaba: Hoichi The Earless have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or stories about non-straight identities. The plot revolves around supernatural elements and relationships between family members and friends.

How does Bunshinsaba: Hoichi The Earless portray gender?

Fair

Yu Mei is a central female character who deals with psychological pressures and the shadow of her successful sister. This gives her a meaningful, character-driven role focused on her actions and decisions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Bunshinsaba: Hoichi The Earless?

Good

The film breaks away from Western horror conventions by incorporating Thai folklore, particularly the Kuman Thong. This inclusion brings diverse, non-Western mythological perspectives to the forefront.

How does Bunshinsaba: Hoichi The Earless represent religion and culture?

Good

The movie emphasizes spiritual logic rather than Western religious frameworks, featuring entities like the BiXian and Sadako. It explores complex morality through accidental blood sacrifices and supernatural consequences.

Does Bunshinsaba: Hoichi The Earless include disability representation?

Fair

The story touches on mental health issues through a failed suicide attempt. However, it is unclear whether this provides genuine representation or simply serves as a plot device.

Present on Screen

Engages strongly with non-Western cultural frameworks and Southeast Asian folklore.
Disrupts Western-centric horror traditions through diverse mythological entities.
Offers a meaningful, character-driven role for a female protagonist dealing with psychological trauma.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or themes.
Mental health struggles are present but may serve primarily as plot devices.
Does not feature neurodivergent characters or visible disability representation.

Official Synopsis

Yu Mei is feeling the pressure of living under the shadow of her more successful sister. After a failed suicide attempt, she finds an abandoned statue on the street and takes it home. When she discovers it is a Kuman Thong, she accidentally makes a blood sacrifice to it, unleashing the Jaroona spirit. After the death of a few of her close friends, she enlists the help of some goofy ghost hunters to suppress the spirit, who realise they are out of their depth. They then call the BiXian for assistance, but even she isn't enough to stop the Jaroona. As a final resort, they call upon the BiXian's arch nemesis - Sadako. Now BiXian and Sadako have to put aside their differences and work together to defeat Jaroona and save You Mei.

How are these scores produced? →