You are here:

Miss Leslie's Dolls

Miss Leslie's Dolls

Representation Score

7.8/10

Good

1973

R

Director

Joseph G. Prieto

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Miss Leslie's Dolls stands out for its era by placing a transgender protagonist at the center of its narrative. This disrupts assumptions that everyone is cisgender and uses gender identity as a primary driver for the film's tension and mystery. However, the film's engagement with other identities is more limited. While it offers some intellectual ability to act through female characters, it relies on genre clichés when handling psychological instability and lacks significant racial depth. Ultimately, the film functions as a piece of transgressive storytelling that prioritizes the disruption of social hierarchies over a nuanced exploration of lived experiences.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Miss Leslie's Dolls have LGBTQ+ representation?

Good

The film centers on Leslie Lamont, a transgender woman, placing her non-cisgender identity at the heart of the plot. Her identity drives the central mystery and tension rather than serving a peripheral role.

How does Miss Leslie's Dolls portray gender?

Good

Leslie Lamont subverts traditional gender roles by exerting predatory power within a traditionally feminine space. While Professor Alma Frost displays intellectual ability to act, the horror elements often emphasize the physical vulnerability of female characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Miss Leslie's Dolls?

Limited

The film follows conventional 1970s casting patterns. While Charles Pitts provides some racial integration within the ensemble, the narrative does not center non-white perspectives or prioritize racial themes.

How does Miss Leslie's Dolls represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative moves away from singular Christian morality by embracing occultism and situational ethics. It portrays the outsider through a lens of tragic history and social isolation.

Does Miss Leslie's Dolls include disability representation?

Fair

Psychological instability is explored through Leslie, though it relies on common horror clichés of madness. Her mental state serves as a plot catalyst rather than a nuanced study of neurodivergence.

Present on Screen

  • Places a non-cisgender identity at the absolute center of the narrative.
  • Subverts traditional gender hierarchies through a dominant female protagonist.
  • Challenges conventional Western morality through themes of occultism and isolation.

Limited or Absent

  • Relies on the 'madness' cliché rather than nuanced depictions of mental health.
  • Lacks significant prioritization of non-white perspectives or racial themes.
  • Frequently shifts focus from women's ability to drive the story to physical vulnerability during horror sequences.

Official Synopsis

A young college professor and three of her students seek shelter during a storm in the rural farmhouse of a strange woman who collects lifelike mannequins.

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.