
The Loved One
1965

1978
Director
Peter Medak
Runtime
87 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
Arthur Harris is a happily married man who returns from his job to discover that his wife, Fiona, is leaving him. Devastated he gets really drunk and tries to commit suicide. After a few setbacks and while he is trying to electrocute himself with a lamp, the door bell rings. An odd man in a leather coat asks if there are any odd jobs that he can perform. Arthur hires the man to kill him. The next day his wife returns, but the man he hired is still trying to kill him...
Overall Score
Fair
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The narrative focuses on a heterosexual marital breakdown. There is no explicit evidence of queer identities or non-cisnormative narratives within the central plot.
Gender Representation
Fiona exercises agency by unilaterally leaving her marriage, subverting the trope of the supportive wife. The male protagonist's dysfunction challenges traditional depictions of masculine competence.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The film provides no information regarding racial or ethnic composition. Given the 1978 production context, the narrative lacks explicit indicators of diverse casting.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The film critiques the sanctity of the nuclear family by framing domestic ideals as fragile constructs. It prioritizes individualistic agency over traditional moral or religious frameworks.
Disability Representation
The protagonist's suicidal ideation and mental health crisis are central to the plot. However, it is unclear if these are portrayed with nuance or as comedic devices.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
The Odd Job is a dark comedy that functions as a character study of domestic dissolution. It succeeds in deconstructing the archetype of the stable, competent male through Arthur's descent into existential crisis and dysfunction. However, the film lacks significant markers of racial or LGBTQ+ diversity. The narrative remains centered on a specific, traditional domestic conflict that offers little room for intersectional depth or diverse representation. Ultimately, the film's impact lies in its subversion of social norms and its critique of Western familial structures rather than its inclusivity.

1965

2007

1977

1972

1999

1959

1978

2018

2016

2013

1958

1979
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!
Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.