Movie review
September 1, 2016 · 108 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The 9th Life of Louis Drax is a 2016 supernatural mystery thriller based on Liz Jensen’s novel. A neurologist treats a comatose nine-year-old boy who has survived many near-fatal accidents and now lies in a coma after a cliff fall. The story unfolds through family flashbacks, psychological sessions, and the boy’s fantastical visions as it explores household secrets and the boundary between reality and imagination. No identity politics, activist messaging, or social-justice themes appear in the narrative, dialogue, or marketing.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The 9th Life of Louis Drax.
Woke representation / casting
All-white main cast of a contemporary North American family story; casting fits the setting, period, and character logic with no visible forced diversity or identity signaling.
Woke political dialogue
No activist, social-justice, or ideological speeches or exchanges appear in the story.
Identity-driven story themes
Core narrative concerns family secrets, psychological mystery, and supernatural visions; no race, gender, or identity-based plotlines or messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Themes stay personal and psychological; no modern activist-style attacks on patriarchy, capitalism, traditional family structures, or Western institutions.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant; original contemporary story adapted from a novel with no established canon or historical figures altered.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No backlash, social media campaigns, or news coverage treating the film as pushing woke content; reception stayed focused on entertainment value.
Creator track record context
Key figures (director Aja, writer Minghella, and most producers/editors) show minimal to no history of activist, identity-driven, or politically themed work across their careers.
Production
