Movie review
July 9, 2020 · 125 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Old Guard is a 2020 action fantasy film about a team of immortal mercenaries who have secretly protected humanity for centuries and now face exposure and pursuit by a pharmaceutical executive seeking to weaponize their regenerative powers. The narrative centers on their found family, personal betrayals, and search for purpose while integrating a new member. The film prominently features a centuries-old gay male couple whose open romance includes an explicit kiss and a major declaration of love scene. Strong female action leads and a diverse team are central, with creators framing the project around representation.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Old Guard.
Woke representation / casting
Prominent gay couple with explicit romance plus diverse strong female leads emphasized by creators.
Woke political dialogue
Key love declaration scene directly rejects homophobia and cultural/religious hatred.
Identity-driven story themes
Queer romances and diverse found family drive emotional arcs and team bonds.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Greedy pharmaceutical corporation as primary villain exploiting immortals for profit.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Moderate backlash in reviews for pushing identity focus and diversity, even if not massive.
Creator track record context
Director and writer show consistent pattern of progressive, identity-conscious work and statements.
Production
