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Totem

Name: Totem
Director: Marcel Sarmiento
Released: 2017
Duration: 89 min

Representation Score

5.4/10

Fair

2017

Not Rated

Director

Marcel Sarmiento

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Totem succeeds in diversifying the horror genre by emphasizing women's ability to drive the story and a multifaceted family dynamic. The protagonist, Kellie, carries the weight of the supernatural conflict, disrupting traditional gender hierarchies. While the casting offers meaningful racial representation through lead actors like Kerris Dorsey, the film remains within the bounds of conventional domestic drama. It avoids many standard clichés by focusing on non-traditional family structures. However, the film lacks engagement with LGBTQ+ identities or disability representation. It primarily functions as a character-driven supernatural thriller that prioritizes domestic shifts over broader systemic issues.

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Category Breakdown

Does Totem have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly depict LGBTQ+ identities. It centers on a family unit and introduces a new romantic interest, maintaining traditional domestic dynamics.

How does Totem portray gender?

Fair

Women play key roles in the story as they navigate supernatural threats. The film shifts power away from traditional patriarchal structures by placing emotional and supernatural burdens on female characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Totem?

Good

The casting includes actors like Kerris Dorsey and Jocelyn Ayanna, providing a more diverse cast compared to typical horror films. The film moves away from a strictly homogeneous depiction of the nuclear family.

How does Totem represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story explores the disruption of the traditional family unit through a new step-parent figure. It maintains a standard domestic setting without engaging in overtly secularist or anti-capitalist themes.

Does Totem include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or mentioned depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Strong women's ability to drive the story through the protagonist's navigation of supernatural phenomena.
Diverse casting that moves beyond the homogeneous nuclear family clichés of horror.
Exploration of shifting family dynamics and non-traditional household structures.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight relationship dynamics.
Absence of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
Limited engagement with broader cultural or systemic themes beyond the domestic sphere.

Official Synopsis

A teen must resort to extreme measures to protect her family from a supernatural entity.

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