You are here:

Bad Building

Name: Bad Building
Director: Philip Granger
Released: 2015
Duration: 75 min

Representation Score

2.4/10

Limited

2015

Director

Philip Granger

Runtime

75 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Bad Building primarily functions as a genre-driven horror film that leverages historical trauma to fuel its supernatural elements. While it avoids the clichés of typical haunted house stories by grounding its malevolence in colonial-era genocide, the narrative remains focused on a media-driven expedition rather than diverse character perspectives. The film's strength lies in its thematic depth, connecting contemporary horror to systemic historical violence. However, this engagement with history serves more as a backdrop for the paranormal investigation than as a platform for underrepresented voices or characters who reflect more than one aspect of diversity. Ultimately, the film prioritizes the investigators' perspective over the voices of the historical subjects, resulting in a work that explores systemic oppression through setting rather than through a diverse cast.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Bad Building have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories about non-cisgender identities. The focus is solely on the paranormal investigation and the building's history.

How does Bad Building portray gender?

Limited

The story revolves around Johnny Craig and his team of urban explorers. There is no depiction of gender subversion or non-traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Bad Building?

Fair

The narrative touches on racialized trauma by referencing colonial-era genocide. However, it is unclear whether this history provides real character's ability to drive the story or merely serves as a plot device.

How does Bad Building represent religion and culture?

Good

The film challenges Western stability by depicting a landmark as a site of genocide and madness. It also critiques the media's commodification of historical trauma.

Does Bad Building include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities in the film.

Present on Screen

The film engages with historical systemic violence and colonial trauma as a foundational element of its horror.
The narrative deconstructs Western stability by portraying a landmark as a site of madness and genocide.
It offers a critique of media consumption and the way trauma is commodified for entertainment.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks character-driven the way different parts of someone's identity overlap and meaningful representation of underrepresented identities.
The focus on the paranormal investigation often prioritizes the investigators over the ability to act of historical subjects.
There is a lack of visible diversity regarding gender roles, LGBTQ+ identities, and disability representation.

Official Synopsis

The Desmond - the building's pleasant sounding name hides a troubled past. The high rise has a long history of fires, murders, madness and even colonial era genocide upon the site. The towering building has stood empty for the better part of a century and even squatters dare not enter it's fortress like walls. But now Johnny Craig, the host of the popular TV paranormal investigation show 'America's Most Haunted' is planning to do a prime-time special from inside The Desmond. With no known way in, or out, Craig has contacted a group of urban explorers to help him and his film crew enter the building. But when Craig and his team set foot inside The Desmond the events that caused the building to be abandoned in the first place begin to repeat.

How are these scores produced? →