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Conjuring: The Book of the Dead

Conjuring: The Book of the Dead

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

2020

Director

Richard Driscoll

Runtime

72 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Conjuring: The Book of the Dead functions as a conventional horror film that relies heavily on established genre clichés. The narrative structure prioritizes the occult mystery and biographical horror over disrupting social hierarchies or providing complex character studies. While the setting and international casting offer minor opportunities for cultural texture, the film remains anchored in traditional Western storytelling. The representation feels incidental to the plot rather than a driving thematic force. Ultimately, the film lacks the intentionality needed to offer complex perspectives on gender, race, or identity, functioning instead as a standard genre exercise.

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Category Breakdown

Does Conjuring: The Book of the Dead have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives that challenge the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender. Instead, it follows a traditional storyline centered around occult themes.

How does Conjuring: The Book of the Dead portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around a male graphic novelist investigating a mystery. Female characters are present, but the narrative does not give them significant roles or challenge gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Conjuring: The Book of the Dead?

Fair

The cast primarily consists of Western actors, although Bai Ling’s inclusion hints at some international diversity. The New Orleans setting could potentially offer a rich cultural backdrop, but this is not fully explored in the plot.

How does Conjuring: The Book of the Dead represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film delves into esoteric traditions through the biography of Aleister Crowley. It emphasizes supernatural dread rather than critiquing religious or Western institutions.

Does Conjuring: The Book of the Dead include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters depicted as navigating physical, neurodivergent, or mental health conditions. The film does not address the portrayal of disability.

Present on Screen

  • The inclusion of Bai Ling adds a touch of international casting to the ensemble.
  • The New Orleans setting offers a potential landscape for diverse cultural textures.

Limited or Absent

  • The narrative lacks meaningful roles for female characters in the central mystery.
  • There is a notable absence of LGBTQ+ visibility or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities.
  • The film fails to utilize its setting to explore deeper racial or cultural diversity.

Official Synopsis

A writer of graphic novels who is given the task of writing a biography on the foremost occultist Aleister Crowley. Things start to go wrong when he discovers a rune inserted in Crowley's diary when visiting New Orleans.

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