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Don't Say Its Name

Name: Don't Say Its Name
Director: Rueben Martell
Released: 2021
Duration: 84 min

Representation Score

6.6/10

Good

2021

Director

Rueben Martell

Runtime

84 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Don't Say Its Name stands out in the horror genre by focusing on Indigenous folklore and female leadership. By integrating the Wheetago mythos and traditional teachings, the film moves away from typical Western storytelling methods. This approach offers a nuanced critique of environmental exploitation and systemic failures through a culturally specific lens. While the film strongly represents women and Indigenous cultures, it lacks LGBTQ+ visibility and disability representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does Don't Say Its Name have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly depict same-sex relationships or non-traditional gender identities. There are no clear LGBTQ+ themes or characters.

How does Don't Say Its Name portray gender?

Good

The story centers female characters in key roles, such as Stacy Cole and Betty Stonechild, who hold positions of leadership and combat.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Don't Say Its Name?

Excellent

Indigenous perspectives are central to the plot, using the Wheetago mythos to highlight traditional knowledge systems.

How does Don't Say Its Name represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film incorporates non-Western spiritual teachings to address environmental issues, providing a critique of systemic problems.

Does Don't Say Its Name include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters dealing with visible or invisible disabilities in the narrative.

Present on Screen

Strong representation of Indigenous perspectives and traditional knowledge.
Women are placed in leadership and combat roles, challenging traditional gender roles.
Non-Western mythology is skillfully integrated into the horror genre.

Limited or Absent

No clear LGBTQ+ themes or characters.
Characters do not include those with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

After environmental activist Kharis Redwater is called back to the living world by her mother Mary Lynn after a questionable “accident” that cost Kharis her life, an ancient spirit is reborn outside of a small northern town out of revenge for the loss of her daughter’s life. Kharis returns as a Wheetago, a ferocious creature that only gets hungrier the more it eats. Can an ex-military Park Ranger, Stacy Cole, and Police Officer, Betty Stonechild, call back their traditional teachings to stop Kharis before she continues to feed on all who get in her way?

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