
Levitating
2026

2013
Director
John Torres
Runtime
85 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
A small town in the Philippines is turned upside down by the arrival of a film crew that has everyone excited. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Lukas finds his own world overturned when he is told that his father is a tikbalang (half horse, half man). His father’s disappearance leaves Lukas to try to unravel the mystery of his own heritage and his own nature.
Overall Score
Good
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film lacks explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative dynamics. The narrative focus remains centered on familial lineage and mythological heritage.
Gender Representation
The story architecture centers on a male protagonist and his paternal lineage. While female roles are not detailed, the central conflict is driven by the father's nature.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The film excels by utilizing a non-Western setting in the Philippines. Centering Filipino identity and indigenous mythology disrupts Western-centric storytelling hegemony.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
Integrating Philippine mythology into a contemporary drama provides significant progressive value. The use of the tikbalang challenges Western rationalism and singular moral frameworks.
Disability Representation
There is no information regarding the depiction of physical, neurodivergent, or mental health conditions.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
Lukas the Strange is a culturally specific drama that finds its strength in the deconstruction of Western narrative norms. By centering a story on Filipino identity and the tikbalang, the film provides high agency to a character of color within his own cultural framework. However, the film's focus on paternal lineage and mythological heritage results in a more limited scope regarding gender and LGBTQ+ representation. The narrative remains centered on a male protagonist, leaving the roles of other identities largely unexamined. Ultimately, the film succeeds as a piece of regional cinema that uses indigenous folklore to explore the complexities of heritage and personal identity.

2026

2021

2016

2016

2010

2009

2018

2025

2020

2000

2013

2018
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!
Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.