You are here:

The Devil Outside

Name: The Devil Outside
Director: Andrew Hulme
Released: 2018
Duration: 103 min

Representation Score

0.4/10

Minimal

2018

Director

Andrew Hulme

Runtime

103 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Devil Outside is a localized, traditionalist drama that emphasizes a specific religious and geographic identity. It explores the psychological tension between strict religious doctrine and adolescent autonomy within a rural American context. By focusing on a homogeneous demographic and singular moral frameworks, the film reinforces established social and religious hierarchies without challenging them. The narrative lacks diverse perspectives, instead reinforcing cultural norms.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Devil Outside have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

There are no LGBTQ+ characters or narratives in the film. It focuses solely on traditional communal and family structures without exploring any queer themes.

How does The Devil Outside portray gender?

Limited

Female characters, especially the mother, play significant roles in maintaining traditional religious and domestic hierarchies. Their influence is tied to preserving these structures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Devil Outside?

Minimal

The cast is homogeneous, representing a typical rural mining town. There are no non-white characters or racial diversity.

How does The Devil Outside represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story is centered around a singular Christian morality and spiritual conflict. Religious institutions are presented as the main lens for understanding reality.

Does The Devil Outside include disability representation?

Minimal

Characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities are not shown with real power or ability to act. Themes of madness are used as supernatural plot devices rather than nuanced explorations.

Present on Screen

The film offers a focused, character-driven exploration of how rigid religious dogma affects adolescent development.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks racial and LGBTQ+ diversity, presenting a highly homogeneous social environment.
Disability is treated as a supernatural plot device rather than a nuanced portrayal of lived experience.
Gender roles remain tied to traditional hierarchies without disrupting established power dynamics.

Official Synopsis

Robert Eastwood is an innocent, brought up in a world of Born Again Christianity that's taught him to look for signs and to believe evil in waiting just outside the front door. When he goes to school he's shocked to discover that no one else thinks the world was made in 7 days or that Jesus will be returning. Caught between his Mother, who's determined to bring Jesus' love to a dead mining town, and his best friend Marcus who's introduced him to teenage rebellion Robert becomes the centre of a spiritual tug of war as he tries to escape his religious beliefs. It's then that he discovers a dead body in the woods and realises God has sent him a sign. The Devil Outside is a story of everyday madness.

How are these scores produced? →