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Gloomy Eyes

Name: Gloomy Eyes
Director: Fernando Maldonado, Jorge Tereso
Released: 2019
Duration: 28 min

Representation Score

6.7/10

Good

2019

Director

Fernando Maldonado, Jorge Tereso

Runtime

28 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Gloomy Eyes employs a gothic, surrealist framework to explore themes of alienation and social exclusion. While the non-human character designs prevent explicit demographic diversity, the narrative structure effectively challenges conventional social hierarchies. The film disrupts traditional hero-villain dynamics by placing the 'monstrous' at the emotional center. This metaphorical approach provides a nuanced look at how underrepresented identities navigate exclusionary environments. Ultimately, the work functions as a sophisticated exploration of the 'other,' prioritizing atmospheric world-building and the subversion of systemic authority over traditional storytelling clichés.

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Category Breakdown

Does Gloomy Eyes have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story focuses on a romantic relationship between Gloomy and Luna. It doesn't explicitly include LGBTQ+ identities or queer dynamics, but the theme of loving an outcast can be interpreted as a nod to social non-conformity.

How does Gloomy Eyes portray gender?

Fair

The film uses a traditional romantic pairing between a male protagonist and a female character. It challenges the typical portrayal of masculinity by emphasizing the protagonist's emotional vulnerability and personal growth.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Gloomy Eyes?

Fair

The monochromatic, stylized animation avoids traditional racial identifiers, which prevents stereotypes but also sidesteps explicit characters who reflect more than one aspect of diversity. Instead, it uses species as a metaphor for exclusion.

How does Gloomy Eyes represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative critiques traditional authority figures by presenting the zombie-hunter as a source of conflict. It portrays monstrous characters as having human qualities while depicting the human world as rigid and exclusionary.

Does Gloomy Eyes include disability representation?

Fair

Gloomy’s zombie status serves as a metaphor for physical or invisible disabilities. The film avoids inspirational clichés by focusing on his internal emotional struggles and quest for connection.

Present on Screen

Uses species as a powerful metaphor for the experience of underrepresented identities.
Challenges traditional gender hierarchies by centering emotional vulnerability in the male protagonist.
Critiques systemic authority by framing the 'human' world as rigid and exclusionary.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer romantic dynamics.
Sidesteps opportunities for multi-layered racial representation due to stylized, non-human character designs.
Relies on a traditional romantic binary between male and female characters.

Official Synopsis

Poor Gloomy. It’s 1983, and the fact that he’s a zombie makes him an outcast. Hiding out in the forest, Gloomy has his sights on a human girl. But her uncle happens to be one of the most feared zombie-hunters in the land. Set in a surreal universe that owes a debt to the visual stylings of Tim Burton, this awardwinning VR experience pairs surreal animation with a darkly humorous take on zombie-human relations.

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