← Back to Directory
Voice of Shadows
Movie

Voice of Shadows

2023 • Horror

Woke Score
2.4
out of 10

Plot

A young working class woman stands to inherit an estate if she and her boyfriend abide by a set of bizarre stipulations. Starring Guillermo Blanco and Corrine Mica.

Overall Series Review

"Voice of Shadows" is a supernatural horror film that focuses its narrative on the personal trauma and spiritual crisis of its lead, Gabriel, a young priest. The film's themes are classic horror fare: inheritance, a haunted house, occult practices, and a struggle between good and evil involving demonic forces and exorcisms. The movie touches on themes of "social class" and features a protagonist (Gabriel) and supporting character (Celeste) of non-Anglo heritage in a central, non-vilified context, which aligns with colorblind casting and universal themes rather than intersectional commentary. The female lead, Emma, is not presented as a 'Girl Boss' but rather as a character who is vulnerable and affected by the spiritual conflict. There is no evidence of anti-Western, anti-family, or overt political messaging. The mild critique of a 'corrupt church official' is framed within the context of a 'tortured holy man' fighting for his faith, preventing a full slide into anti-theism. The film's main focus is on the transcendent morality and spiritual peril, making it largely apolitical in the context of modern 'woke' ideology.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics3/10

The narrative attempts to explore "social class," with the leads being "working class." The male lead (Gabriel, played by Guillermo Blanco) and his sister (María José Vargas Agudelo as Celeste) are of non-Anglo-European heritage and are the emotional and spiritual core of the story. Gabriel is a complex, 'flawed yet likable' protagonist, and his casting appears meritocratic and colorblind. There is no evidence of vilification of 'whiteness' or forced diversity, but rather a character-driven story featuring diverse actors.

Oikophobia2/10

The score is low because the conflict is a classic inheritance/haunted house horror trope that respects the structure of Western institutions (family, property, and the church). While the house is a source of evil, it is not framed as a critique of Western civilization but of occult practice and a dark past. There is no evidence of a 'Noble Savage' trope or demonization of ancestors beyond the eccentric and malevolent Aunt Milda and the house's lore.

Feminism2/10

The female lead, Emma, is the inheritor, but the emotional and spiritual struggle is centered on the male protagonist, Gabriel. He is portrayed as protective (raising his sister, ignoring the stipulation to stay with Emma) and is the 'tortured holy man' fighting the evil. Emma's personality is noted to 'change' after staying in the house, which contrasts with the 'Mary Sue/Girl Boss' trope. The central relationship is a committed male-female pairing; no anti-natal or anti-family messaging is apparent.

LGBTQ+1/10

There are no mentions of LGBTQ+ themes, characters, or ideology in the plot summaries. The central relationship is a traditional male-female couple (Gabriel and Emma). The focus is entirely on a normative structure regarding sexuality and family, warranting the lowest possible score.

Anti-Theism4/10

The movie is explicitly a "religious, supernatural scares" horror film involving a priest, a crisis of faith, exorcisms, and demonic forces. The protagonist is a 'holy man' whose spiritual integrity is tested. While the plot involves "corrupt church officials," this is a traditional horror trope of institutional corruption and not an attack on faith itself. The film is noted to give a "respectful view" to the leap of faith needed for the priesthood, indicating a focus on transcendent morality and spiritual conflict rather than Anti-Theism.