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The Old Ways

The Old Ways

2021

R

Director

Christopher Alender

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Cristina, a journalist of Mexican origin, travels to her ancestral home in Veracruz to investigate a story of sorcery and healing. There, she is kidnapped by a group of locals who claim she's the devil incarnated.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.6/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks any visible LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. There is no evidence of non-heteronormative identities being explored within the story.

Gender Representation

Fair

Cristina, a female journalist, serves as the central protagonist with professional agency. However, the film's portrayal of gender hierarchies remains unclear due to limited character interaction details.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The story centers on a protagonist of Mexican origin within her ancestral home in Veracruz. This approach moves away from Western-centric perspectives by prioritizing a non-Anglo-Saxon setting.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative engages with indigenous sorcery and ancestral healing traditions. It challenges Western moral structures by framing local perceptions through the lens of folklore and superstition.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no information regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. The narrative does not address these specific representation needs.

Strengths

  • Strong racial agency through a Mexican protagonist.
  • Authentic use of a non-Western, Veracruz-based setting.
  • Exploration of indigenous sorcery and ancestral healing themes.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of visible LGBTQ+ representation or queer narratives.
  • Insufficient detail regarding the subversion of gender hierarchies.
  • No evidence of disability representation within the narrative.

AI Analysis

The Old Ways succeeds in centering a non-Western perspective by grounding its horror in the cultural landscape of Veracruz. By making a Mexican journalist the protagonist, the film avoids the typical Western-centric lens often found in the genre. While the film offers strong racial and cultural agency through its focus on indigenous sorcery, it remains limited in other areas of intersectionality. The lack of visible LGBTQ+ representation and unknown disability representation prevents a more well-rounded score. Ultimately, the film is a culturally specific piece that prioritizes female agency and ancestral heritage, even if it lacks depth in broader social identity categories.

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