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The Rites of May

Name: The Rites of May
Director: Mike de Leon
Released: 1976
Duration: 105 min

Representation Score

7.7/10

Good

1976

Director

Mike de Leon

Runtime

105 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Mike de Leon’s *Itim* employs the horror genre to dismantle provincial gothic themes and delve into the psychological impacts of familial dysfunction. By shifting the focus from supernatural events to the psychological consequences of a disappearance, the film offers a fresh take on horror. Though the film disrupts Western cinematic norms through its Philippine setting, it falls short in explicitly representing LGBTQ+ and disability identities. The narrative largely adheres to traditional dramatic and straight-centered structures. The film’s strength lies in its portrayal of the family as a site of unresolved trauma, rather than a safe haven.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Rites of May have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on heterosexual and cisgender relationships without addressing non-cisgender identities or questioning the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does The Rites of May portray gender?

Good

Women play key roles in driving the story and resolving the central mystery, highlighting their experiences and trauma rather than traditional male-centric plots.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Rites of May?

Fair

Set in the Philippines, the film presents a non-Western perspective that challenges Western horror conventions by focusing on a non-Anglo-Saxon cultural context.

How does The Rites of May represent religion and culture?

Good

The movie critiques oppressive provincial family structures and local authorities, using supernatural elements to reveal hidden societal secrets and challenge traditional hierarchies.

Does The Rites of May include disability representation?

Fair

Psychological haunting and possession are used as plot devices, but there is little evidence of characters with disabilities having significant control over their own stories.

Present on Screen

Presents a non-Western perspective that challenges globalized horror conventions.
Highlights the role of women in driving the story and resolving the central mystery.
Examines the oppressive nature of traditional provincial family structures.

Limited or Absent

Could benefit from more explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
Uses psychological trauma and possession as genre devices rather than exploring disability.
Relies on traditional straight-centered romantic and familial relationships as the main plot driver.

Official Synopsis

During a return to his provincial home, a young man gets involved with a woman who is ultimately possessed by her sister's spirit, paving the way to revealing the painful truth about her unsolved disappearance.

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