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May the Devil Take You

May the Devil Take You

2018

R

Director

Timo Tjahjanto

Runtime

110 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Hoping to find answers to her estranged father's mysterious illness, a young woman visits his old villa and uncovers a horrifying truth from the past.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.8/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks any discernible LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. It focuses strictly on biological kinship and traditional interpersonal relationships within a heteronormative framework.

Gender Representation

Fair

A female protagonist drives the story, providing moderate representation through her central role. However, she remains subject to traditional genre tropes involving extreme physical and psychological vulnerability.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The film excels by utilizing an Indonesian ensemble cast and setting. It avoids Western-centric archetypes, instead building tension through indigenous folklore and local social structures.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

Cultural exploration is limited to the horror of the occult and ritualistic cultism. The narrative operates within traditional supernatural morality rather than offering a critique of social institutions.

Disability Representation

Limited

Disability is used primarily as a plot device to trigger the mystery. The father's illness serves as a catalyst for horror rather than a portrayal of lived experience.

Strengths

  • High degree of ethnic authenticity through an Indonesian ensemble cast.
  • Avoids Western-centric gaze by utilizing indigenous folklore and local settings.
  • Provides a localized cultural experience that rejects Anglo-Saxon archetypes.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative narratives.
  • Uses disability primarily as a narrative catalyst for horror rather than agency.
  • Relies on traditional gender tropes that subject female characters to extreme vulnerability.

AI Analysis

Timo Tjahjanto’s horror film is a study in atmospheric tension that prioritizes local authenticity over social subversion. It succeeds significantly in its ethnic grounding, utilizing an Indonesian cast to create a narrative that feels organically tied to its regional setting and folklore. However, the film adheres closely to traditional genre boundaries. While the female lead possesses agency, the power dynamics are still heavily tied to patriarchal lineage. The treatment of disability and LGBTQ+ identities is minimal, with the former serving mostly as a source of mystery and the latter being entirely absent. Ultimately, the film is a genre-specific survival story. It focuses on familial trauma and supernatural chaos rather than deconstructing systemic power dynamics or exploring intersectional identities.

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