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Where the Scary Things Are

Where the Scary Things Are

2022

R

Director

B. Harrison Smith

Runtime

97 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The horror begins as Ayla and her high-school friends discover a hideous, semi-human mutant. They keep it prisoner while shooting repulsive viral videos, but the gang’s hunger for “likes” drives them to film the beast performing murderous acts. When one boy sees that Ayla is using the monster’s gruesome violence to settle her own vendettas, he threatens to tell the authorities, but is he too late to save his friends?

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.8/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film lacks explicit mention of LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities. The narrative focuses on a peer group's descent into violence for social capital rather than queer presence.

Gender Representation

Fair

Ayla serves as a proactive protagonist who drives the plot through her personal vendettas. This subverts traditional tropes by giving the female lead morally complex and predatory motivations.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

There is no information regarding the racial or ethnic composition of the high-school ensemble. The film does not confirm a non-white majority or intersectional characters with high agency.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The story critiques the modern digital ecosystem and the corrupting pursuit of social media validation. It explores how the 'culture of likes' can lead to moral decay.

Disability Representation

Limited

The semi-human mutant acts as a monster archetype or plot device rather than a character with agency. There is no evidence of neurodivergent or physically disabled human characters.

Strengths

  • Ayla provides a subversion of the 'final girl' trope by acting as a morally complex driver of the plot.
  • The narrative offers a sharp critique of contemporary Western social behaviors and the digital 'culture of likes'.

Areas for Improvement

  • The film lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative characters.
  • There is no evidence of meaningful agency or nuanced depiction for characters with disabilities.
  • The racial and ethnic composition of the ensemble remains unverified and lacks intersectional depth.

AI Analysis

The film functions primarily as a genre-driven critique of digital-age social dynamics and the pursuit of viral validation. It explores the ethical decay of a youth group driven by the attention economy. While the narrative offers a nuanced look at female agency through Ayla, it lacks verifiable intersectional representation. The focus remains on social behavior and psychological consequences rather than identity politics. Ultimately, the work serves as a cautionary tale about social media voyeurism. It lacks the specific character depth or diverse casting required to achieve a higher progressive rating.

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