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The Diabolical

Name: The Diabolical
Director: Alistair Legrand
Released: 2015
Duration: 86 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

2015

TV-MA

Director

Alistair Legrand

Runtime

86 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Diabolical follows a conventional thriller trajectory centered on a domestic crisis. While it avoids some genre clichés by giving the female lead central ability to act, the narrative remains within standard Western social structures. The film lacks complexity in reflecting multiple aspects of identity, focusing instead on genre-standard tension. Without explicit character details regarding race, disability, or LGBTQ+ identities, the work functions as a traditional, straight-centered horror piece. Ultimately, the film prioritizes a familiar suburban setting and a scientist-led solution to paranormal threats over disrupting established social or cultural hierarchies.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Diabolical have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story centers around a family unit where everyone is assumed to be straight and cisgender. There are no characters with non-traditional gender identities.

How does The Diabolical portray gender?

Fair

A female protagonist drives the plot by actively seeking solutions to a paranormal threat. This role challenges the common horror cliché of the passive female victim.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Diabolical?

Minimal

The narrative does not specify the racial or ethnic backgrounds of the cast members. Therefore, there is no information to assess the film's racial diversity.

How does The Diabolical represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film operates within a traditional Western suburban framework. It relies on secular themes through a scientist archetype, avoiding deconstruction of social hierarchies or cultural institutions.

Does The Diabolical include disability representation?

Minimal

The character descriptions provide no mention of physical disabilities, neurodivergence, or mental health conditions. No representation of disability is present in the provided details.

Present on Screen

The female protagonist plays a significant role in driving the plot.
The narrative avoids the cliché of the passive female victim common in the horror genre.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender characters.
The story adheres to conventional Western domestic structures without exploring diverse cultural perspectives.
There is no evidence of representation regarding physical or mental disabilities.

Official Synopsis

When a single mother and her two young children are tormented by an increasingly strange and intense presence in their quiet suburban home, she turns to her scientist boyfriend to take on the violent forces that paranormal experts are too frightened to face.

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