Holidays

The film lacks any characters who identify as LGBTQ+. Romantic relationships are exclusively heterosexual, reinforcing traditional social norms without addressing queer identities or challenging the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

Gender dynamics vary by segment. Kevin Smith’s part features a competent mother and an inept father, slightly subverting traditional gender roles. Other segments often depict women as victims of supernatural threats or objects of male suspicion, adhering to traditional horror clichés.

Sarah Adina Smith’s segment highlights Lily Gladstone in a lead role grounded in Indigenous folklore, offering respectful representation. Other segments primarily feature white casts. The Halloween segment includes a racially diverse group, though race is not a central narrative element.

Cultural engagement is mostly superficial, using holidays as backdrops without deeper critique. Sarah Adina Smith’s segment critiques consumerism but lacks systemic depth. The Indigenous segment employs magical realism, which might exoticize beliefs, while other segments rely on ethnic clichés.

Disability is not a significant theme, with no characters having visible or invisible disabilities. The film does not address neurodivergence or mental health issues beyond general horror trauma. This absence reinforces the idea that only able-bodied individuals are represented.