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The Cleansing Hour

Name: The Cleansing Hour
Director: Damien LeVeck
Released: 2019
Duration: 91 min

Representation Score

8.8/10

Excellent

2019

Not Rated

Director

Damien LeVeck

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Cleansing Hour subverts horror clichés by placing a queer romantic partnership at the emotional core of the story. It shifts traditional masculine leadership to women's ability to drive the story, presenting women as capable survivors rather than victims. While the film excels in gender and LGBTQ+ representation, it lacks a diverse multi-ethnic ensemble, limiting the broader racial and ethnic scope of the world.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Cleansing Hour have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film centers its emotional weight on the romantic relationship between Claudia and Anna. Their intimate connection serves as the main anchor for the story's survival narrative.

How does The Cleansing Hour portray gender?

Excellent

Women are portrayed as the primary agents of survival and combat. The film avoids damsel-in-distress clichés, emphasizing female intellect and resilience.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Cleansing Hour?

Fair

The narrative focuses on socioeconomic and digital identities rather than racial stereotypes. However, the absence of a broad, multi-ethnic cast limits the scope of representation.

How does The Cleansing Hour represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques organized spiritual authority by portraying exorcisms as capitalist social media events. It depicts ritualistic cults as sources of chaotic, antisocial violence.

Does The Cleansing Hour include disability representation?

Fair

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities. The film does not utilize disability as a plot device or center characters with disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film integrates queer identity and women's ability to drive the story into the core of its survival narrative.
It effectively challenges traditional gender hierarchies by making women the primary agents of combat.
The narrative offers a sophisticated critique of how capitalism and social media commodify belief.

Limited or Absent

The lack of a multi-ethnic ensemble limits the film's racial and ethnic diversity.
There is no meaningful representation or centering of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Two entrepreneurs stage elaborate fake exorcisms on social media until one of their girlfriends becomes possessed by a demon.

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