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File 253

Name: File 253
Director: Abe Rosenberg Fishbein
Released: 2015
Duration: 79 min

Representation Score

3.6/10

Limited

2015

Director

Abe Rosenberg Fishbein

Runtime

79 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Archivo 253 primarily focuses on found-footage horror, emphasizing tension over diverse representation. The narrative is driven by a male-dominated investigative team, limiting opportunities for varied perspectives. While the Mexico City setting offers a non-Western backdrop, the film does not actively subvert social hierarchies. Instead, it focuses on paranormal investigation rather than addressing systemic power dynamics. Ultimately, the film's adherence to genre conventions leads to a narrow demographic focus. It lacks the depth needed in gender, identity, and disability representation to achieve a higher progressive score.

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Category Breakdown

Does File 253 have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities. The story focuses solely on a group of male investigators.

How does File 253 portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around a group of four young men, lacking any female or gender-diverse perspectives. This results in limited subversion of traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is File 253?

Fair

Set in Mexico City, the film provides a Latin American context. However, it is unclear whether the main characters represent the local population or a more homogenous group.

How does File 253 represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film explores historical medical and systemic structures through its psychiatric clinic setting. While it touches on hidden histories, it does not clearly challenge social hierarchies.

Does File 253 include disability representation?

Fair

The psychiatric setting introduces themes of mental health and neurodivergence. However, it is unclear if these elements provide meaningful character development or simply serve as horror clichés.

Present on Screen

The Mexico City setting provides a non-Western urban backdrop.
The narrative explores historical institutional memory through its psychiatric clinic setting.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks women's ability to drive the story and gender-diverse perspectives.
There is no evidence of LGBTQ+ representation or non-cisgender identities.
The use of mental health themes may rely on horror clichés rather than character's ability to drive the story.

Official Synopsis

In 2013 a psychiatric clinic which served for more than 50 years caring for patients in Mexico City was demolished. A few months before its demolition, four young men came to investigate the clinic, determined to discover the truth about rumors of strange and paranormal events, recording everything with which they encounter. Today, the whereabouts of these four young men are unknown, remaining only fragments of their recordings.

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