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The Ex Next Door

Name: The Ex Next Door
Director: Danny Buday
Released: 2019
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

2.5/10

Limited

2019

Director

Danny Buday

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Ex Next Door is a conventional domestic thriller that upholds traditional social institutions. The narrative structure centers on protecting a stable marriage from an external threat, reinforcing established social norms rather than questioning them. Since the plot depends on genre clichés such as the 'obsessed ex,' the film does not explore the overlapping aspects of identity. It operates as a typical genre piece that adheres to traditional Western values of domesticity. Overall, the film does not offer much in the way of narrative subversion or the deconstruction of power dynamics, focusing instead on a singular, homogeneous conflict.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Ex Next Door have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film centers on a heterosexual marriage and features a female antagonist. It does not include any non-straight or non-cisgender identities and does not question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Ex Next Door portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around a typical gendered conflict where a domestic relationship is threatened by an outside force. The antagonist has a significant role in disrupting traditional roles but does not challenge them.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Ex Next Door?

Limited

The narrative sticks to conventional thriller clichés that typically focus on homogeneous settings. There is no indication of a diverse or non-Anglo-Saxon majority cast.

How does The Ex Next Door represent religion and culture?

Limited

The plot emphasizes the preservation of the nuclear family and marital sanctity. It aligns with traditional Western values concerning domestic stability and does not critique broader societal structures.

Does The Ex Next Door include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Louisa, the antagonist, plays a significant role in driving the story.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or perspectives that reflect multiple aspects of diversity.
The narrative relies on homogeneous domestic settings rather than racial or ethnic diversity.
There is no exploration of disability or characters with diverse physical or mental needs.
The story reinforces traditional gender hierarchies and social structures instead of subverting them.

Official Synopsis

Katie Gatewood's love for her husband Dan is put to the test when Dan's obsessed ex-girlfriend Louisa moves into the house next door, intending to drive the happy couple apart by any means necessary.

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