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The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Movie

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

2010 • Action, Adventure, Drama

Woke Score
4
out of 10

Plot

Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob -- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life.

Overall Series Review

The film centers on a love triangle with clear racialized dynamics that frame the protagonist’s ultimate choice. One suitor is a 'hyper-white' vampire from an affluent, ancient European-coded family who represents a 'celestial' and eternal future. The rival is an Indigenous-coded werewolf, portrayed as an 'earthly' and instinctual option, who is ultimately rejected. The female protagonist is depicted as traditionally dependent, with the plot emphasizing her vulnerability and constant need for rescue by the male heroes. The narrative endorses traditional gender roles, with the main dramatic tension revolving around a religiously-inspired debate over the sanctity of the soul and the maintenance of pre-marital chastity. The movie strongly affirms the protagonist's quest for an immortal, stable, and protective family unit.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics8/10

The core of the narrative forces the protagonist to choose between her 'hyper-white' Edward, who represents affluence and 'civilization,' and Jacob, a character of the Quileute Nation who is coded as the 'savage,' poorer, and animalistic option. The rejection of the Indigenous character for the European-coded vampire is interpreted as promoting a racialized, colonialist hierarchy where the 'celestial' white path is superior. The Quileute tribe's culture is appropriated and misrepresented as mere werewolf mythology for the story's conflict.

Oikophobia2/10

The film does not promote hostility toward Western civilization. It elevates the European-descended Cullen family as the wealthy, sophisticated ideal of a protective, stable, and eternal family. The main character desires to join this 'civilized' group, which functions as a shield against chaos, rather than fleeing her home culture due to its perceived corruption.

Feminism1/10

The female protagonist, Bella, is consistently portrayed as passive, clumsy, and dependent on male protection, describing herself as 'helpless and delicious' in the book source. The narrative features repeated instances where both male leads must rescue her. The primary tension revolves around the pursuit of a traditional marriage and family, with the central romance endorsing a 'purity culture' theme by insisting on pre-marital virtue, directly opposing 'Girl Boss' or anti-natalist messaging.

LGBTQ+1/10

The story's central focus is an intense, traditional love triangle between one human female and two powerful males. The narrative structure is staunchly heteronormative and reinforces a purity code related to marriage and family. There is no presence of alternative sexualities, deconstruction of the nuclear family, or lecturing on gender ideology.

Anti-Theism5/10

The most significant conflict in the relationship stems from Edward's religiously-influenced conviction that turning Bella into a vampire will damn her soul, making specific dogma the primary obstacle to the protagonist's desire. Bella repeatedly argues that the idea of a 'soul' does not matter compared to her love and eternal life. The pursuit of immortality and her choice to supersede this specific moral law for personal desire places the theme in the middle, acknowledging a higher law while ultimately prioritizing subjective choice.