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The Burrowers

Name: The Burrowers
Director: J.T. Petty
Released: 2008
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

1.4/10

Minimal

2008

Director

J.T. Petty

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Burrowers is a genre-driven creature feature that emphasizes atmospheric tension over social commentary. It adheres closely to traditional Western and horror clichés, using a period-accurate demographic that lacks depth in reflecting multiple aspects of identity. While the film grants significant roles to children, this serves the horror plot rather than challenging social power structures. The narrative centers on immediate survival threats, with character development taking a back seat to the supernatural elements.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Burrowers have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on frontier survival and does not include any non-straight or non-cisgender identities or same-sex relationships among the characters.

How does The Burrowers portray gender?

Fair

The film follows traditional Western roles. Although boys and girls must act equally to survive, there is little challenge to established gender norms.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Burrowers?

Limited

The cast reflects the historical demographics of the 1879 Dakota Territories, with no significant racial mixing. The focus is on a period-accurate settler community.

How does The Burrowers represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story follows standard Western conventions, depicting survival without directly criticizing religious or expansionist ideals.

Does The Burrowers include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities prominently featured. Characters are defined mainly by their physical abilities for survival.

Present on Screen

The film offers a historically accurate depiction of a 1879 frontier settlement.
Children of various genders play key roles in navigating the central threat.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks racial diversity or intentional departure from Anglo-centric casting.
There is no LGBTQ+ representation or queer subtext in the character arcs.
The film does not critique Western institutions or systemic power dynamics.

Official Synopsis

It is 1879 in the Dakota Territories, a band of men who set out to find and recover a family of settlers that has mysteriously vanished from their home. Expecting the offenders to be a band of fierce natives, but they soon discover that the real enemy stalks them from below.

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