You are here:

Them, Behind the Door

Name: Them, Behind the Door
Director: Joe Chien Jen-Hao
Released: 2024
Duration: 111 min

Representation Score

8.7/10

Excellent

2024

Director

Joe Chien Jen-Hao

Runtime

111 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film stands out by embedding itself in an Eastern cultural framework, using specific traditions like the Chinese Ghost Month to anchor its horror narrative. It successfully challenges traditional gender roles by placing a woman at the forefront of her struggle against patriarchal violence. However, the film lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities and provides limited depth around disability, often treating sensory differences as mere plot devices rather than integral to the character development. Ultimately, the work is a strong example of culturally specific storytelling that connects supernatural themes to real-world socioeconomic issues.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Them, Behind the Door have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film centers on a family unit where the mother, daughter, and husband are portrayed in a straight relationship. There is no explicit mention of any queer identities or relationships.

How does Them, Behind the Door portray gender?

Good

CHEN Wei is the main character who navigates both domestic violence and metaphysical dread. The narrative challenges traditional gender roles by highlighting a woman's resilience and her struggle for independence.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Them, Behind the Door?

Excellent

The story is set in an Asian context, using the Chinese Ghost Month as a key element. It avoids Anglo-centric clichés by focusing on an Eastern perspective and featuring local characters.

How does Them, Behind the Door represent religion and culture?

Good

The film highlights how economic hardship can force individuals into dangerous situations. It moves away from Western religious frameworks and instead presents a more localized spirituality and cultural superstition.

Does Them, Behind the Door include disability representation?

Fair

Ah Di’s ability to see spirits implies a form of perceptual difference. However, it is unclear whether this trait gives Ah Di a significant role in driving the story or if it merely serves as a plot device for creating tension.

Present on Screen

Strong focus on Eastern cultural motifs and traditions.
Effective challenge of traditional gender roles.
Nuanced exploration of the connection between poverty and safety.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight identities.
Unclear portrayal of disability as a narrative device rather than a character trait.
Limited visibility of diverse romantic or social structures.

Official Synopsis

The story centers on CHEN Wei and her daughter, seeking refuge from CHEN Wei’s violent husband in the Butterfly Mansion, known for its eerie reputation as a suicide hotspot. Strange events unfold, and warnings from Uncle LIANG, the building’s janitor, and Uncle Shan, the temple caretaker who lives on the top floor, about the unsafe floor are ignored due to financial constraints. Neighbors like Ah Di, who sees spirits, and the forbidden Room No. 613, intensify CHEN’s unease. Substitute manager Xiao Liang cares for CHEN, with her daughter showing joy in his visits. As the Chinese ghost month progresses, supernatural events escalate, revealing a crisis beyond CHEN Wei’s initial struggles.

How are these scores produced? →