You are here:

Trilogy of Terror

Name: Trilogy of Terror
Director: José Mojica Marins, Ozualdo Ribeiro Candeias, Luiz Sérgio Person
Released: 1968
Duration: 115 min

Representation Score

5.0/10

Fair

1968

Director

José Mojica Marins, Ozualdo Ribeiro Candeias, Luiz Sérgio Person

Runtime

115 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Trilogy of Terror is a significant example of Latin American genre cinema that uses horror to explore psychological and socio-political anxieties. It stands out by grounding its narratives in the Brazilian context and local superstitions, breaking away from Anglo-centric storytelling. However, the film still adheres to the social hierarchies of the late 1960s. Its reliance on traditional gender and mental health archetypes limits its progressive depth. Ultimately, the work's value lies in its regional authenticity and its engagement with localized fears rather than in explicit identity politics.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Trilogy of Terror have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film doesn't include non-binary or LGBTQ+ identities and focuses on traditional heterosexual roles typical of 1960s horror.

How does Trilogy of Terror portray gender?

Limited

Characters adhere to traditional gender roles, such as a mother driven by domestic duties. Women display ability to act through black magic, but this is linked to maternal instincts.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Trilogy of Terror?

Fair

As a Brazilian production, the film provides a localized viewpoint that breaks from Western homogeneity. The setting highlights engagement with the regional population and socio-political issues.

How does Trilogy of Terror represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story explores superstition and folk beliefs, challenging a single religious morality. It uses occultism and political themes like guerrilla presence to address social conflicts.

Does Trilogy of Terror include disability representation?

Fair

Psychological distress and phobias drive the plot in the third part. However, mental states serve mainly as horror triggers rather than detailed explorations of neurodivergence.

Present on Screen

Offers a non-Western perspective that diversifies global horror cinema.
Addresses localized Brazilian socio-political tensions and regional folklore.
Explores complex themes of superstition and folk belief.

Limited or Absent

Depends on traditional gender roles centered around domesticity and maternal sacrifice.
Uses psychological conditions and phobias mainly as plot devices for horror tension.
Doesn't represent non-binary or LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex intimacy.

Official Synopsis

An anthology divided in three segments, helmed by three of the most important Brazilian directors of the 20th century. A mother becomes involved with black magic and offers a virgin woman to the Devil in exchange for curing the illness of her only son. A poor laborer is the only man in the village with courage to face a group of guerrilheiros ("guerrilla ghosts") that haunt the minds of the locals. A young man is afflicted by fear of reptiles and spiders and the fear of being buried alive. When he undergoes a shocking event, he becomes unresponsive and is mistakenly buried, only to revive in the coffin after burial.

How are these scores produced? →