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Army of the Dead

Army of the Dead

2021

R

Director

Zack Snyder

Runtime

148 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble: venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.8/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks prominent LGBTQ+ characters or non-heteronormative identity arcs. Interpersonal dynamics focus on traditional romantic and platonic bonds without disrupting heteronormative structures.

Gender Representation

Fair

Vandetta Wise provides a strong counter to conventional hierarchies as a highly proficient combatant. While the ensemble is male-dominated, female characters are essential, capable participants rather than damsels in distress.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

A multi-ethnic ensemble, including Omari Hardwick and Ella Balinska, reflects a globalized landscape. Characters of color possess high agency and central roles in the tactical execution of the heist.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The quarantined Las Vegas setting critiques capitalist excess and the decay of Western institutions. The narrative frames survival and individualistic rebellion against failing authority as a primary mode of empowerment.

Disability Representation

Limited

Engagement with disability is minimal. Physical trauma serves primarily as a plot device to heighten horror tension rather than exploring lived experiences of neurodivergence or chronic illness.

Strengths

  • A multi-ethnic ensemble featuring characters of color with high agency and central roles.
  • Female characters like Vandetta Wise are depicted as highly proficient, capable combatants.
  • The narrative provides a sharp critique of capitalist excess and failing Western institutions.

Areas for Improvement

  • The film lacks prominent LGBTQ+ representation or non-heteronormative identity arcs.
  • Disability is used primarily as a plot device for tension rather than exploring lived experience.
  • The ensemble remains heavily male-dominated, limiting the depth of gender-based social critique.

AI Analysis

Army of the Dead succeeds in presenting a diverse, multi-ethnic mercenary unit where characters of color hold central, high-agency roles. This avoids common tropes of whitewashing and reflects a globalized world. The film also offers a cynical deconstruction of Western institutions and capitalist excess through its setting and anti-social protagonists. However, the film struggles with significant gaps in representation. There is a notable absence of LGBTQ+ identities and meaningful disability narratives. While female characters are capable and avoid the 'damsel' trope, the overall ensemble remains heavily male-dominated. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its racial inclusion and its thematic critique of systemic collapse, even as it fails to provide depth regarding gender-based social critique or non-heteronormative perspectives.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Religious & Cultural Representation in Film
  • Religious & Cultural Representation in Drama

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Diversity score: 5.4 out of 10

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