You are here:
Dwellers: The Curse of Pastor Stokes

Dwellers: The Curse of Pastor Stokes

2020

Director

DeShon Hardy

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

A puzzle of dark secrets surfaces when a pastor inherits a church from his mentor.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.8/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film lacks explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. There is no indication that the story critiques heteronormativity or explores non-cisnormative identities.

Gender Representation

Fair

Female leads like Tina Krause and Stacey Giambastiani suggest a move away from purely male-centric perspectives. However, the film's stance on gender power dynamics remains unclear.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The cast composition shows moderate potential for racial diversity. The involvement of diverse performers indicates a departure from the homogeneous casting often seen in studio horror.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

The story centers on a pastor inheriting a church, which may deconstruct religious authority through its curse premise. It lacks a clear systemic critique of these institutions.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no documented evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities. No instances of neurodivergence or physical disability appear in the cast or synopsis.

Strengths

  • The cast includes diverse performers, moving away from homogeneous casting norms.
  • The presence of female leads suggests a narrative framework that isn't strictly male-centric.

Areas for Improvement

  • The film lacks any documented representation of LGBTQ+ identities or narratives.
  • There is no evidence of characters with physical or invisible disabilities.
  • The extent of the film's critique regarding religious or gender hierarchies is unproven.

AI Analysis

Dwellers: The Curse of Pastor Stokes presents a moderate level of inclusion primarily through its casting choices. The presence of diverse performers suggests an intentional effort to move beyond traditional, homogeneous horror demographics. While the film avoids the pitfalls of an all-white cast, it lacks depth in specific representation categories. There is no evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or characters with disabilities, leaving significant gaps in the film's intersectional profile. The narrative's focus on a religious institution offers a potential avenue for exploring institutional corruption. However, without more specific character arcs, it is difficult to determine if the film truly subverts traditional social or gender hierarchies.

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.