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The Killing Pact

Name: The Killing Pact
Director: John Lyde
Released: 2017
Duration: 82 min

Representation Score

1.5/10

Minimal

2017

TV-14

Director

John Lyde

Runtime

82 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Killing Pact functions as a conventional psychological thriller focused on personal ability to act and consequences. While the film includes a female protagonist, it does not use her position to challenge systemic power dynamics or explore multiple aspects of identity. The narrative structure depends heavily on established genre clichés, such as domestic conflicts and financial instability. This adherence to tradition prevents the film from offering progressive social commentary. Overall, the film lacks intentional diversity in its representation, favoring a standard suspense plot over exploring varied cultural or social backgrounds.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Killing Pact have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any visible LGBTQ+ characters or stories about non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities. The main storyline revolves around traditional family and personal relationships.

How does The Killing Pact portray gender?

Fair

Hayley Udall is a central female character dealing with single motherhood and financial struggles. However, the story relies on conventional gender stereotypes, such as the 'horrible ex-husband.'

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Killing Pact?

Limited

The primary cast does not include any characters from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The story follows a typical thriller format without specifying racial or ethnic identities.

How does The Killing Pact represent religion and culture?

Fair

The plot delves into moral ambiguity and situational ethics through a criminal pact. These themes serve as thriller elements rather than critiques of broader social or cultural institutions.

Does The Killing Pact include disability representation?

Minimal

The story does not feature any characters with visible or invisible disabilities. It also does not represent neurodivergence or chronic health conditions.

Present on Screen

The film features a female protagonist who drives the plot through her own decisions.
The narrative explores complex themes of moral ambiguity and the descent into criminal behavior.

Limited or Absent

The story relies on traditional gender stereotypes and conventional domestic conflicts.
There is a lack of visible racial, ethnic, or LGBTQ+ representation in the characters.
The film misses opportunities to critique systemic social structures or institutional norms.

Official Synopsis

Hayley Udall tries to make ends meet for herself and her 14 year-old daughter while providing alimony for a horrible ex-husband. She wishes her problems with her ex could go away, and upon venting her frustrations one night, finds herself tangled up in a pact with two people (Melanie and Kevin) to "eliminate" each other's problems. It seemed innocent wishful thinking before, but as people end up dead-including Hayley's ex-husband-Hayley is trapped to fulfill the pact or risk taking the fall for murder.

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