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The Demon of the Andes

Name: The Demon of the Andes
Director: Palito Ortega Matute
Released: 2014
Duration: 87 min

Representation Score

5.6/10

Fair

2014

Director

Palito Ortega Matute

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film serves as a significant piece of regional cinema that challenges Western horror clichés by centering Andean folklore. Its strength lies in its commitment to ethnic authenticity and the preservation of indigenous mythologies. While the production elevates non-Western storytelling, it lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight-centered identities. Additionally, there is little information regarding intentional gender-role subversion within the character arcs. Ultimately, the film's value is found in its ethnographic approach, using the Jarjacha legend to validate localized, ethnic-specific perspectives rather than following standard Hollywood horror conventions.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Demon of the Andes have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. It focuses on the Jarjacha myth, which centers on ancestral curses rather than identity-based social dynamics.

How does The Demon of the Andes portray gender?

Fair

The cast includes several female actors, providing a balanced presence. However, it is unclear if these characters have significant roles in driving the story or if the film challenges traditional gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Demon of the Andes?

Excellent

The film excels by centering Andean culture and indigenous Peruvian mythology. It prioritizes non-Western storytelling traditions, moving away from Anglo-centric horror structures to embrace a localized perspective.

How does The Demon of the Andes represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative prioritizes local oral histories and ancestral knowledge over standard religious explanations. This approach values communal heritage and mythic truths over institutionalized morality.

Does The Demon of the Andes include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters portraying physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the available narrative details.

Present on Screen

Centers Andean culture and indigenous Peruvian mythology through the Jarjacha legend.
Prioritizes local oral histories and communal heritage over Western horror clichés.
Provides a localized, ethnic-specific perspective that validates indigenous narratives.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight-centered identities.
Provides no evidence of characters portraying physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
Unclear if female characters possess significant roles in driving the story or subvert traditional gender hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

El Demonio de los Andes, directed by Palito Ortega Matute, is based on the Andean myth of the Jarjacha, a demonic character set on destroying everyone it comes across. The legend of the Jajacha has been passed down from generation to generation. Ortega Matute spoke to people who were told about it by their parents, who had been told the tale by their parents. He also listened to accounts from people who say they’ve seen the demon with their own eyes.

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