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Voices

Name: Voices
Director: Nathaniel Nuon
Released: 2020
Duration: 108 min

Representation Score

7.2/10

Good

2020

Director

Nathaniel Nuon

Runtime

108 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Voices succeeds by centering a visually impaired protagonist, turning a potential weakness into a unique way of experiencing the world. This approach offers a meaningful exploration of sensory perception and ability to act within the horror genre. However, the film remains largely within traditional social frameworks. It relies on conventional domestic structures and maternal roles, missing opportunities to challenge broader social hierarchies or explore diverse multi-layered identities. Ultimately, the film is a character study that elevates a underrepresented perspective to a central role, even if it stays within established narrative boundaries.

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Category Breakdown

Does Voices have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story focuses on a traditional family structure centered around marriage and motherhood. It avoids using negative stereotypes but does not include explicit representations of LGBTQ+ identities or challenge the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does Voices portray gender?

Fair

Lilly is a strong female lead who drives the plot through her intelligence and resilience. She plays a significant role in the story, but the narrative leans on traditional maternal archetypes.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Voices?

Fair

The film lacks visible diversity in its cast and does not explore multiple aspects of identity related to race. The story focuses on individual spiritual journeys rather than broader racial power dynamics.

How does Voices represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film delves into a complex spiritual framework involving limbo and moral relativism. It avoids dogmatic religious teachings but does not engage in specific critiques of Western or capitalist systems.

Does Voices include disability representation?

Good

Blindness is a core part of the protagonist's identity and her connection to the supernatural. The film portrays disability as a nuanced human experience rather than just a plot device.

Present on Screen

The protagonist demonstrates high ability to act and emotional resilience despite her blindness.
Disability is portrayed as a nuanced aspect of identity rather than just inspiration.
Supernatural elements are integrated deeply into the protagonist's sensory experience.

Limited or Absent

The narrative heavily relies on traditional maternal and straight-centered archetypes.
There is a lack of visible racial diversity within the cast and story.
The film does not actively challenge existing social hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

After visiting her father's grave, Lilly and her mother are involved in a terrible car accident leaving Lilly orphaned and unable to see. In her youth, she struggles with her blindness and begins to hear voices. Unbeknownst to her they don't belong to the living. After years of learning to cope, Lilly is now happily married with a baby on the way. Lilly soon discovers her unborn baby has become a vessel a second chance for souls stuck in limbo to be re-born. She only has until the baby's first heartbeat to decide which soul will be re-born through her. Now the voices she heard in her youth have returned, clamoring for the chance to come back. Among the voices, she befriends the spirit of a little girl tied to a years-old cold case. Lilly finds herself in a desperate struggle with the girl's murderers and the souls vying to be born again.

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