You are here:
Tower

Tower

2016

TV-14

Director

Keith Maitland

Runtime

82 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Combining archival footage with rotoscopic animation, Tower reveals the action-packed untold stories of the witnesses, heroes and survivors of America’s first mass school shooting, when the worst in one man brought out the best in so many others.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.9/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film functions as a historical record of the 1966 shooting. It lacks explicit focus on non-cisnormative identities or LGBTQ+ narratives, prioritizing chronological events over identity-based storytelling.

Gender Representation

Fair

The documentary presents a balanced view by documenting the experiences of both male and female students and faculty. It focuses on shared vulnerability rather than subverting gendered power dynamics.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The narrative disrupts a monolithic historical account by centering voices from various racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. It acknowledges the intersectional realities of the University of Texas campus during that era.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The film maintains a traditional historical framework focused on the empirical reality of the tragedy. It avoids ideological critiques of Western institutions, religion, or capitalism.

Disability Representation

Fair

The film touches upon the psychological aftermath and invisible scars of trauma. However, it does not explicitly center neurodivergence or physical disability as primary narrative drivers.

Strengths

  • Provides meaningful representation by centering the voices of people of color present during the tragedy.
  • Offers a balanced view of the crisis by documenting both male and female survivors.
  • Avoids reinforcing traditional hierarchies by focusing on the shared vulnerability of all individuals involved.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks intentional visibility or explicit focus on LGBTQ+ narratives and non-cisnormative identities.
  • Does not explicitly center neurodivergence or physical disability as primary narrative drivers.
  • Prioritizes historical and chronological accuracy over the subversion of cultural or gendered power dynamics.

AI Analysis

Tower succeeds as a nuanced historical document that captures the diverse human experience during a moment of crisis. By utilizing rotoscopic animation to bring survivor testimonies to life, the film avoids a monolithic perspective and provides meaningful representation of the era's diverse student body. While the film avoids harmful stereotypes, its primary objective is chronological accuracy rather than the intentional subversion of social hierarchies. It documents the event through a lens of human agency and collective trauma rather than progressive identity-based storytelling. Ultimately, the work is inclusive within its historical context but does not actively seek to challenge traditional societal norms or provide deep visibility for specific marginalized identities.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.