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The Emeryville Experiments

Name: The Emeryville Experiments
Director: Pritesh Chheda
Released: 2016
Duration: 83 min

Representation Score

2.2/10

Limited

2016

Director

Pritesh Chheda

Runtime

83 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Emeryville Experiments operates as a conventional horror-thriller that prioritizes survivalist clichés over identity-driven storytelling. The narrative centers on a group of college students escaping a hostile environment, following established genre frameworks rather than challenging them. Representation is minimal across all categories. The film lacks LGBTQ+ characters and does not show significant racial or ethnic diversity within its Western setting. Gender roles follow traditional archetypes without clear subversion of hierarchies. Furthermore, the film risks using disability as a mere plot device. By framing 'crazies' as antagonists, the story leans into harmful clichés that use cognitive impairment to generate tension rather than providing meaningful representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Emeryville Experiments have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight identities. There is no evidence of queer-coded subtext or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does The Emeryville Experiments portray gender?

Limited

The film features female performers, but the narrative revolves around typical survival scenarios. Women do not significantly drive the plot through intellectual or physical strength.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Emeryville Experiments?

Limited

The setting and cast suggest a traditional Western horror framework. There is no evidence of non-white or non-Anglo-Saxon majority casting or characters from diverse racial backgrounds.

How does The Emeryville Experiments represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story uses remote village and failed experiment clichés common to the genre. It does not clearly critique Western institutions, capitalism, or religion.

Does The Emeryville Experiments include disability representation?

Minimal

The film may use mental health or cognitive impairment as a source of horror. Characters with disabilities appear as threats rather than individuals with ability to act.

Present on Screen

The cast includes several female performers, providing a baseline for gender presence within the ensemble.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks intentionality in exploring how different parts of someone's identity overlap.
The narrative relies on traditional horror clichés that may sideline or dehumanize characters with disabilities.
There is a notable absence of LGBTQ+ representation and diverse racial casting.

Official Synopsis

When their car crashes, 4 college kids seek help in Emeryville - a dilapidated village. New comers discover that place was once a ground for clinical experiments gone awry and plot an escape. They find themselves hunted by crazies.

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