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When the Lights Went Out

Name: When the Lights Went Out
Director: Pat Holden
Released: 2012
Duration: 86 min

Representation Score

0.8/10

Minimal

2012

Director

Pat Holden

Runtime

86 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

When the Lights Went Out operates as a conventional supernatural thriller that emphasizes genre clichés over social complexity. The story revolves around a traditional 1970s nuclear family structure, limiting the scope of its character dynamics. The film does not address multi-layered identities, resulting in a narrative that adheres to established social hierarchies. It functions primarily as a period-set horror piece centered on a singular, homogeneous domestic experience. Ultimately, the production focuses on the external threat of a poltergeist rather than exploring diverse cultural or systemic perspectives.

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Category Breakdown

Does When the Lights Went Out have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships. The story revolves around a traditional nuclear family unit.

How does When the Lights Went Out portray gender?

Limited

The story centers on the Maynard family, following conventional gender roles. Women are not shown subverting authority, and men are not portrayed through non-traditional lenses.

How racially and ethnically diverse is When the Lights Went Out?

Limited

Set in 1974 Yorkshire, the film portrays a homogeneous community. There is no indication of diverse ethnic perspectives or actors from different backgrounds.

How does When the Lights Went Out represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative uses the haunted house cliché to emphasize the sanctity of the family unit. It lacks secular or anti-institutional themes, focusing instead on preserving a traditional domestic life.

Does When the Lights Went Out include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters dealing with physical disabilities, neurodivergence, or mental health conditions. These elements are not central to the narrative drivers.

Present on Screen

The film maintains a clear, focused genre identity as a supernatural period thriller.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks diverse ethnic perspectives and LGBTQ+ identities.
The story relies on traditional gender roles and domestic structures.
There is no representation of disability or neurodivergence within the character arcs.

Official Synopsis

Yorkshire, 1974, the Maynard family moves into their dream house. It's a dream that quickly descends into a panic stricken nightmare as the family discovers a horrifying truth, a truth that will make the history books. The house is already occupied by the most violent poltergeist ever documented, a poltergeist that will tear you from your bed as you sleep and drag you helplessly into the darkness.

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