“The Divide” is a searing and timely social commentary that will leave audiences both deeply disturbed and deeply moved. The film follows the residents of a New York City apartment building in the days and weeks after a nuclear attack. The residents, who are from a variety of backgrounds and have varying degrees of preparedness, must band together in order to survive.
The film is incredibly well-acted, and the characters are all very believable and relatable. The film also has a very effective use of suspense, which keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat throughout.
Being unsure as to what to expect from this movie i went into watching with some intrepidation, from reading other critics reviews it seems to be one polarizing flick in that some folks love it, others hate it. Thankfully, i can say that i’m in the former camp, though i’d be lying if i said that i thought The Divide was perfect.
The movie has far too many loose ends for my liking. I won’t divulge spoilers here but there are certain ‘things’ that happen throughout the movie that’re never clearly explained as to why they are happening. I’ve been able to pretty much devise what’s going on but at the end of the day all i have are theories and for me that’s not enough. Don’t get me wrong, not everything has to be tied up nicely in a movie for me to be happy but when you have a situation where there are too many unexplained events it starts to grate. This (to me) is the Divide’s biggest glaring problem.
There are’nt many special effects or gore sequences but what is there is done very professionally and the movie does feel like a solid A-level production.
The general acting standard is superb, i actually quite liked Michael Biehn’s character Mickey even though he had qualities that made him… Well, an asshole. It’s tough to explain most the characters and their dimensions without giving away spoilers but suffice to say the downward spiral the characters go through is dealt with an almost grace like quality.
When all is said and done The Divide offers a gritty, visually impressive look into the more nietzschean aspects of the human psyche. It’s not a happy movie, indeed i’d say it’s downright depressing for the most part but it is engrossing if you can get into it, so for that i’m gonna give it a recommendation. Just keep the razor blades somewhere where you can’t easily get to them!
Although “The Divide” is a fictional film, it feels all too real in today’s world. With the current political climate, the possibility of a nuclear attack feels very real, and this film does an excellent job of depicting the chaos and terror that would ensue. This is a must-see film for anyone who wants to be prepared for the worst.
Synopsis
The Divide is a 2011 American science fiction thriller film directed by Xavier Gens and starring Milo Ventimiglia, Rosanna Arquette, Michael Biehn, and Lauren German. The film follows a group of survivors of a nuclear attack who take refuge in the basement of an apartment building, only to find themselves trapped with no hope of escape.
As the world outside their refuge quickly descends into chaos, the survivors must face the horrific reality that the only way to survive is to kill each other.
With the help of a former soldier (Biehn), the group attempt to escape the basement, but are constantly thwarted by the monstrous creatures that now roam the earth.
As supplies run low and tempers flare, the group realizes that the only way to survive is to band together and fight for their lives.
The Divide is a gripping tale of survival in the face of impossible odds.
Movie Details
Director: Xavier Gens
Writer: Eron Sheean
Actors: Lauren German, Michael Biehn, Milo Ventimiglia
Release Year: 2011