You are here:

San Andreas Quake

Name: San Andreas Quake
Director: John Baumgartner
Released: 2015
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

2015

PG-13

Director

John Baumgartner

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

San Andreas Quake operates as a conventional disaster film, primarily driven by its genre conventions. Its standout feature is the subversion of gender hierarchies by placing a female expert at the center of the narrative. This shift offers a refreshing perspective compared to the typical male-led disaster protagonist. However, the film's reliance on traditional family dynamics and conventional narrative structures limits its broader social impact. The focus remains on a narrow, conventional view of the domestic sphere during a crisis, failing to engage with broader racial, cultural, or LGBTQ+ issues. While the film provides a strong female lead, it falls short in representing diverse characters and addressing multi-layered complexities.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does San Andreas Quake have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not feature any explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives, focusing instead on a traditional nuclear family structure.

How does San Andreas Quake portray gender?

Good

The story centers on a female seismologist who uses her expertise to drive the plot, providing a strong female lead with significant influence over the traditionally male-dominated disaster genre.

How racially and ethnically diverse is San Andreas Quake?

Limited

The cast lacks diversity, with no indication of a multicultural or non-Anglo-Saxon majority. Despite being set in Los Angeles, the film adheres to conventional casting practices.

How does San Andreas Quake represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative emphasizes Western cultural norms and the protection of the home. It does not explore alternative cultural perspectives or deconstruct Western institutions.

Does San Andreas Quake include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with visible or invisible disabilities, nor does it address neurodivergence or physical impairments.

Present on Screen

Subverts gender hierarchies by centering the plot on a female expert.
Provides a significant role in driving the story to a female protagonist with intellectual authority.

Limited or Absent

Lacks multi-layered complexity and diverse character representation.
Relies on traditional, conventional casting and narrative structures.
Fails to include LGBTQ+ narratives or disability representation.

Official Synopsis

When a discredited L.A. Seismologist warns of an impending 12.7 earthquake, no one takes her seriously. Now on her own, she races desperately to get her family to safety before the earthquake breaks Los Angeles apart from the mainland.

How are these scores produced? →