You are here:

The Surrogate

Name: The Surrogate
Director: Raymond Hartung, Jan Egleson
Released: 1995
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

1.1/10

Minimal

1995

Director

Raymond Hartung, Jan Egleson

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Surrogate functions as a typical 1990s television melodrama, focusing on domestic suspense rather than social commentary. The narrative relies on established genre clichés rather than attempting to challenge social hierarchies or offer perspectives that reflect multiple aspects of identity. While the film centers on female-driven conflict, it does so through traditional maternal themes rather than subverting gender roles. The absence of racial, cultural, or LGBTQ+ diversity confines the story to a narrow, conventional framework. Ultimately, the film serves as a psychological thriller that delves into the darker aspects of family structures without providing broader critiques of the institutions it portrays.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Surrogate have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities. The central conflict revolves around heterosexual relationships and reproduction.

How does The Surrogate portray gender?

Fair

The story emphasizes the role of women in driving the plot through psychological tension and domestic power dynamics.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Surrogate?

Minimal

The film presents a homogeneous, primarily Anglo-Saxon environment. There is no indication of multiculturalism or diverse casting.

How does The Surrogate represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film explores parental dysfunction within a traditional Western domestic setting through a psychological thriller lens. It does not critique broader social institutions.

Does The Surrogate include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not address any physical or mental health disabilities among the characters.

Present on Screen

The plot centers on complex power dynamics between women.
The narrative explores deep psychological tension through maternal and domestic themes.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial and ethnic diversity, presenting a very homogeneous cast.
There is no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender perspectives.
The story adheres to traditional Western domesticity without challenging social norms.

Official Synopsis

Amy Winslow wants to go to art college but can't get her financial aid approved. A help wanted ad leads to a couple that will let her move into their quiet guest home rent free, a dream come true except that Joan wants Amy to be a surrogate mother for her next child. Little does Amy know the dark sinister reasons behind her desire, the scandalous death of Joan's first infant child and the fear she might hurt her next baby. The baby is adopted before Amy wakes up in the hospital, leading to a dangerous confrontation to claim the child finally for her own.

How are these scores produced? →