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May the Devil Take You

Name: May the Devil Take You
Director: Timo Tjahjanto
Released: 2018
Duration: 110 min

Representation Score

4.9/10

Fair

2018

TV-MA

Director

Timo Tjahjanto

Runtime

110 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Timo Tjahjanto’s horror film is a study in atmospheric tension that prioritizes local authenticity over social subversion. It succeeds in using an Indonesian cast to create a narrative that feels naturally tied to its regional setting and folklore. However, the film adheres closely to traditional genre boundaries. While the female lead plays a significant role, the power dynamics remain tied to patriarchal lineage. The treatment of disability and LGBTQ+ identities is minimal, with disability serving mostly as a source of mystery and LGBTQ+ identities 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 multiple aspects of diversity.

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Category Breakdown

Does May the Devil Take You have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories. It centers on traditional family relationships within a framework that assumes everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does May the Devil Take You portray gender?

Fair

A female character drives the story, but she is subject to traditional genre clichés that emphasize extreme physical and psychological vulnerability.

How racially and ethnically diverse is May the Devil Take You?

Excellent

The film features an Indonesian cast and setting, avoiding Western stereotypes. It builds tension through local folklore and social structures.

How does May the Devil Take You represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film explores the horror of the occult and ritualistic cultism. It stays within traditional supernatural morality without critiquing social institutions.

Does May the Devil Take You include disability representation?

Limited

Disability is used 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.

Present on Screen

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

Limited or Absent

Lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or stories.
Uses disability primarily as a narrative catalyst for horror.
Relies on traditional gender clichés that subject female characters to extreme vulnerability.

Official 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.

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