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The Retreat

Name: The Retreat
Director: Bruce Wemple
Released: 2021
Duration: 88 min

Representation Score

2.2/10

Limited

2021

Director

Bruce Wemple

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Retreat operates as a traditional genre piece relying heavily on established horror clichés. The narrative centers on a singular, masculine survivalist experience, limiting the scope for diverse perspectives or multi-layered depth. While the film incorporates indigenous mythology through the Wendigo legend, it does so through a conventional horror lens. This approach often treats folklore as a source of 'othered' terror rather than engaging in meaningful cultural exploration or colonial critique. Ultimately, the film lacks the intentionality needed to disrupt traditional cinematic hierarchies. It remains a focused, individualistic struggle that avoids broader sociological or systemic themes.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Retreat have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on a lone male protagonist in a survival horror setting. There are no queer characters or non-cisgender identities in the story.

How does The Retreat portray gender?

Limited

The story centers on a man's struggle for survival, emphasizing traditional masculine roles. It lacks female characters with significant influence or challenges to gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Retreat?

Fair

The film uses the Wendigo legend from Algonquian folklore. However, it risks treating indigenous spirituality as a source of terror rather than offering nuanced cultural insights.

How does The Retreat represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative follows a typical Western survivalist storyline. It emphasizes individual survival without addressing broader cultural or institutional critiques.

Does The Retreat include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no explicit mention of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. While the protagonist fights for his sanity, this does not represent formal disability.

Present on Screen

Uses established folklore to create tension and genre-specific horror elements.

Limited or Absent

Could give more ability to act to female characters to move beyond traditional gender roles.
Could approach indigenous mythology with more nuance to avoid using culture merely as an aesthetic device.
Lacks multi-layered depth and diverse character identities within the survival narrative.

Official Synopsis

A man finds himself alone and lost after a horrifying encounter with a monster during a backpacking trip into the Adirondack High Peaks. Now, he must fight for his life, and sanity, as he battles the evil Native American legend, The Wendigo.

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