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Beast of War

Beast of War

Representation Score

4.2/10

Fair

2025

R

Director

Kiah Roache-Turner

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Beast of War stands out for its progressive approach to historical casting. By diversifying the faces of the Australian military during WWII, the film challenges the standard Anglo-Saxon visual clichés of the genre. However, the film remains constrained by its period setting and military focus. The narrative appears heavily centered on masculine archetypes and traditional combat dynamics, limiting representation in gender and LGBTQ+ categories. Ultimately, the film succeeds as a modern reimagining of a historical epic, prioritizing racial inclusivity even while adhering to the structural limitations of a survival horror war story.

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Category Breakdown

Does Beast of War have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on the survival mechanics of a military unit. There is no explicit mention of LGBTQ+ characters or stories that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Beast of War portray gender?

Limited

The plot centers on a troop of young Australian soldiers, reinforcing traditional masculine archetypes of combat and physical endurance common in 1940s settings. The narrative is driven by male characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Beast of War?

Excellent

The production disrupts conventional monolithic military clichés through inclusive casting. Featuring actors like Mark Coles Smith and Aswan Reid provides significant roles to characters of color in a historical setting.

How does Beast of War represent religion and culture?

Fair

The somber, tragic themes suggest a move away from patriotic triumphalism. The narrative may explore moral relativism and the realistic costs of conflict rather than traditional heroism.

Does Beast of War include disability representation?

Minimal

The synopsis does not mention characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The narrative focus remains on external threats like the shark and the environment.

Present on Screen

  • Challenges traditional 1940s military clichés through inclusive, diverse casting.
  • Provides significant roles to characters of color in a historical setting.
  • Avoids simple patriotic triumphalism in favor of a more somber, realistic tone.

Limited or Absent

  • Lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities or stories that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.
  • Relies on traditional masculine archetypes, limiting gender diversity.
  • Provides no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

When their boat sinks while crossing the Timor Sea during World War II, a troop of young Australian soldiers must find a way to survive the harsh seas on a quickly shrinking raft. Hundreds of miles from anywhere, they must confront interpersonal conflicts, enemy attacks, and the advances of one very large, very hungry great white shark.

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