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Movie Analysis Essay: The Old Guard

Wong Yan Xin

B1900964

Department of Psychology, HELP University

PSY 317: Psychology of Film

Mr Bob Brian Canggra

6 March 2023
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"The Old Guard" is a 2020 American superhero film directed by Gina Prince-

Bythewood, based on the comic book of the same name by Greg Rucka and Leandro

Fernandez. The film tells the story of a group of immortal mercenaries who have been alive

for centuries, and who use their powers to fight against evil forces.

From a psychological perspective, "The Old Guard" provides an interesting

perspective on several theories and concepts in human personality. Firstly, attachment theory

suggests that our early relationships with caregivers shape our attachment styles and

influence our relationships throughout our lives (Granqvist & Duschinsky, 2021). In "The

Old Guard," we see how the characters' relationships with each other are deeply rooted in

their shared experiences and history. The immortals have formed a tight-knit family over the

centuries, relying on each other for emotional support and guidance. They rely on each other

for emotional support and guidance, and their relationships are tested as they navigate the

challenges of their dangerous lives. By highlighting the importance of attachment and

relationships, the movie underscores the fundamental human need for connection and

belonging. Besides, trauma theory suggests that experiences of extreme stress or adversity

can have a lasting impact on our mental health and well-being (Krupnik, 2019). In "The Old

Guard," the characters have all experienced intense emotional pain and loss over the course

of their long lives. They are haunted by their past experiences, and struggle to come to terms

with their immortality and the toll it has taken on their mental health.

According to Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development theory, it suggests that

human development unfolds in a series of psychosocial stages, each of which is characterised

by a unique developmental task or crisis (Gross, 2020). In "The Old Guard," all characters are

grappling with different psychosocial challenges at different points in their long lives. For

example, Andy, the leader of the group, has been alive for centuries, and has lost her sense of

purpose and identity as a result. She is no longer sure what her role is in the world, and
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questions whether her immortality is a curse or a blessing, while Nile is grappling with her

newfound immortality and the sense of isolation that comes with being different from

everyone else. By exploring how the characters are navigating these developmental

challenges, the movie underscores the importance of understanding the role of developmental

processes in shaping their lives. Moreover, the nature vs. nurture debate explains whether

human development is primarily shaped by genetic factors (nature) or environmental factors

(nurture) (Stiles, 2011). In "The Old Guard," I can see how the characters' immortality has

fundamentally shaped their development. They have lived for centuries, experiencing a vast

range of environments and social contexts, and their development has been shaped by these

experiences in profound ways. For instance, Andy has been alive for thousands of years and

has lived through countless wars and conflicts. She has grown weary of the constant fighting

and has become jaded and disconnected from humanity. However, she finds purpose in

leading her team of immortals and protecting the world from harm. Booker, another member

of the group, has lived through the horrors of the Napoleonic Wars and has struggled with

alcoholism as a result. Joe and Nicky, who are in a romantic relationship, have been alive for

hundreds of years and have fought alongside each other in countless battles. They are fiercely

loyal to each other and their team.

Next, social comparison theory suggests that we evaluate ourselves by comparing

ourselves to others (Kretz, 2020). Throughout "The Old Guard," I can see how the characters

compare themselves to others both within and outside of their group. They are constantly

evaluating their abilities and accomplishments, and this comparison shapes their sense of

self-worth. By exploring the impact of social comparison, the movie highlights the

importance of understanding how our perceptions of ourselves are shaped by our interactions

with others. For example, the newest member of the group, Nile, is struggling to come to

terms with her immortality and the fact that she will never age or die. She is torn between her
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desire to return to her former life and her duty to protect the world as an immortal.

Throughout the process she keeps asking questions and comparing herself with other

immortal members regarding the consequences of their eternal lives.

Besides, groupthink concept refers to the tendency for group members to conform to

the group's norms and beliefs, even when these beliefs may not be accurate or valid (Pol et

al., 2022). In "The Old Guard," we see how the immortals have a strong sense of loyalty to

each other and their mission, and this loyalty can sometimes lead them to make decisions that

may not be in their best interest. Even though Booker betrays Andy to a pharmaceutical CEO

named Merrick who wants to take advantage of the quartet's special genetic skills, he still

chooses to join back the team and fight against Marrick at the end. Apart from that, this film

also shows the theory of stereotyping and prejudice which refer to the tendency to make

assumptions about people based on their membership in certain social groups (FitzGerald et

al., 2019). The immortals are sometimes stereotyped and discriminated against because of

their unique status as immortals. They are feared and misunderstood by many people, people

think that they are the one who will bring threat to the world, instead they are the one who

protect the world from harm.

Furthermore, the abnormal psychology concept that has been illustrated in this film is

substance abuse, this concept refers to the harmful use of drugs or alcohol, which can have a

range of negative effects on mental health and behaviour (Duca et al., 2019). In "The Old

Guard," Joe and Nicky use alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma and pain

they have experienced over the centuries. Besides, the immortals also have experienced Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a mental health disorder that can develop in people who

have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event (Krupnik, 2019). They experienced trauma

over the centuries, from battlefield injuries to losing loved ones. These traumatic experiences
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have had a lasting impact on their mental health, with some characters experiencing

symptoms of PTSD such as flashbacks and nightmares.

Overall, the characters' lives in "The Old Guard" are defined by their immortality,

their past experiences, and their relationships with each other. They must navigate the

challenges of living forever while also fighting to protect the world from those who seek to

exploit their powers.

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References

Duca, Y., Aversa, A., Condorelli, R. A., Calogero, A. E., & La Vignera, S. (2019).

Substance abuse and male hypogonadism. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(5), 732.

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8050732

FitzGerald, C., Martin, A., Berner, D., & Hurst, S. (2019). Interventions designed to

reduce implicit prejudices and implicit stereotypes in real world contexts: A

systematic review. BMC Psychology, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-019-0299-

Granqvist, P., & Duschinsky, R. (2021). Attachment theory and research. Oxford

Research Encyclopedia of Psychology.

https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.51

Gross, Y. (2020). Erikson's stages of Psychosocial Development. The Wiley Encyclopedia of

Personality and Individual Differences, 179–184.

https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118970843.ch31

Kretz, V. E. (2020). Social comparison theory. The International Encyclopedia of Media

Psychology, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119011071.iemp0156

Krupnik, V. (2019). Trauma or adversity? Traumatology, 25(4), 256–261.

https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000169

Pol, O., Bridgman, T., & Cummings, S. (2022). The forgotten ‘immortalizer’:

Recovering William H Whyte as the founder and future of Groupthink Research.

Human Relations, 75(8), 1615–1641. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187267211070680

Stiles, J. (2011). Brain development and the nature versus nurture debate. Progress in Brain

Research, 3–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-53884-0.00015-4