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The Telling

Name: The Telling
Director: Nicholas Carpenter, Harry Grigsby
Released: 2009
Duration: 84 min

Representation Score

3.3/10

Limited

2009

Director

Nicholas Carpenter, Harry Grigsby

Runtime

84 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film functions as a standard horror anthology, prioritizing visceral thrills and genre clichés over social commentary. While it features a female-centric cast through its sorority protagonists, the narrative focuses on traditional social hierarchies rather than progressive representation. Diversity is limited by a reliance on conventional casting and storytelling structures. The absence of multi-layered identities or critiques of systemic power suggests a work designed for genre-standard suspense rather than social subversion.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Telling have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not feature explicit LGBTQ+ characters or stories that address non-straight identities. The focus on sorority life suggests adherence to traditional social structures.

How does The Telling portray gender?

Fair

While the story centers on female protagonists, it explores lateral aggression within a sorority. It does not challenge traditional gendered power dynamics or deconstruct masculinity.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Telling?

Limited

The setting suggests a potentially homogeneous cast typical of traditional campus horror. Characters of color do not have significant roles or screen time.

How does The Telling represent religion and culture?

Fair

The anthology format relies on supernatural clichés and interpersonal conflict. It lacks themes that critique institutional oppression or challenge traditional Western values.

Does The Telling include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities included in the narrative.

Present on Screen

The narrative provides a female-centric perspective by centering the plot on three female sorority pledges.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks visible LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight identities.
There is a lack of racial and ethnic diversity within the character ensemble.
The story does not include characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
The narrative fails to challenge traditional Western values or institutional structures.

Official Synopsis

In this horror anthology film, three girls pledge the most popular - and cruelest - sorority on campus. For their final task, they must tell the scariest story they know. Containing three distinct stories - one featuring a murderous doll, one a has-been actress and her run in with a film crew of the undead and, finally, a hunt-and-kill fright-fest.

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