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The Diabolical

Name: The Diabolical
Director: Giovanni Korporaal, Rafael Villaseñor Kuri
Released: 1977
Duration: 93 min

Representation Score

0.9/10

Minimal

1977

Director

Giovanni Korporaal, Rafael Villaseñor Kuri

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film operates within the narrow, regressive confines of the horror-western genre. It relies heavily on the exploitation of women, using sexual violence and ritualistic trauma as primary plot drivers. This approach reinforces traditional power imbalances rather than challenging them. Narratively, the work adheres to standard genre conventions. Characters follow predictable Western clichés, and the themes center on supernatural malice and individual criminality. There is a notable absence of complexity or critique related to systemic issues. Ultimately, the film prioritizes shock value over meaningful representation. By centering its plot on predatory masculinity and the victimization of underrepresented figures, it fails to offer any progressive or diverse perspectives.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Diabolical have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film centers on predatory heterosexual violence and ritualistic trauma. It does not include any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Diabolical portray gender?

Minimal

Women are shown as passive victims of sexual violence and ritualistic marking. The story reinforces outdated hierarchies where female autonomy is completely absent.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Diabolical?

Limited

The setting relies on conventional Western archetypes such as the Sheriff and Banker. There is no indication of a non-white majority cast or subversion of Anglo-Saxon dominance.

How does The Diabolical represent religion and culture?

Minimal

The story explores Satanism through a traditional horror lens. It focuses on individual malice and shock value without critiquing social or Western institutions.

Does The Diabolical include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities being portrayed with significant roles within the narrative.

Present on Screen

The film adheres strictly to established horror-western genre clichés.

Limited or Absent

The narrative relies on the exploitation and victimization of women to drive the plot.
The film lacks complexity or any critique of systemic social structures.
There is a complete absence of LGBTQ+ identities or diverse racial representation.
The story reinforces regressive power dynamics rather than subverting them.

Official Synopsis

Dave Boland (Carlos East) wears a strange medallion and robs the bank. He also takes the banker's daughter with him. Then he rapes her and put the satanic mark on her body. He was caught and was prepared for hanging. At moment before hanging Dave uses his supernatural power and makes a local shoe-shiner his accomplice. While running from sheriff Dave was injured and after some time dies. But before his death Dave gives this medallion to shoe-shiner Oscar and asks him to take revenge in the name of Satan. So he does it and also continue to rape and kill women never forgetting to leave satanic mark on their bodies...

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