You are here:

Blast

Name: Blast
Director: Albert Pyun
Released: 1997
Duration: 99 min

Representation Score

1.6/10

Minimal

1997

Director

Albert Pyun

Runtime

99 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Blast is a typical late-90s action-thriller that relies heavily on genre clichés to create tension. The narrative centers around a high-stakes hostage situation but does so through a narrow lens of representation. The film’s structure reinforces traditional power dynamics. By casting women as hostages and a male janitor as the main hero, it upholds the gender hierarchies common to the era. Overall, the film lacks the intention to challenge social norms, functioning as a standard genre piece reflecting the mainstream cinema standards of its time.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Blast have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ representation or hints of same-sex relationships.

How does Blast portray gender?

Limited

It features a group of female athletes but positions them as vulnerable hostages, reinforcing traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Blast?

Limited

The cast is predominantly white and lacks diverse ethnic representation.

How does Blast represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story focuses on Western action themes without exploring cultural or religious diversity.

Does Blast include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Features a group of female athletes as the core characters.
Presents a high-concept, high-stakes scenario centered on a precision terrorist attack.

Limited or Absent

Lacks diverse racial and ethnic representation.
Reinforces traditional gender roles by positioning women as vulnerable hostages.
Does not include any LGBTQ+ representation or queer subtext.
Does not feature any characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

A deadly team of terrorists mounts a precision attack on a swimming complex, which holds the world's finest women's swimming team hostage, and unknowingly traps a janitor inside.

How are these scores produced? →