The Divide (2011)

Survivors of a nuclear attack are grouped together for days in the basement of their apartment building, where fear and dwindling supplies wear away at their dynamic.

Director:

Xavier Gens

Writers:

Karl Mueller, Eron Sheean

Stars:

Lauren German, Michael Biehn, Milo Ventimiglia

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lauren German	...	Eva
Michael Biehn	...	Mickey
Milo Ventimiglia	...	Josh
Courtney B. Vance	...	Delvin
Ashton Holmes	...	Adrien
Rosanna Arquette	...	Marilyn
Iván González	...	Sam
Michael Eklund	...	Bobby
Abbey Thickson	...	Wendi
Jennifer Blanc	...	Liz

Storyline

After a nuclear attack, seven dwellers of an apartment building seek refugee in a bunker in the basement of the building where the super Mickey lives. He rationalize water and supplies among the group formed by Eva and her boyfriend Sam; the gays Bobby and Josh and his brother Adrien; Marilyn and her daughter Wendi; and Delvin. When three invaders break in their shelter wearing protective clothing and breathing apparatuses, they abduct Wendi but the survivors succeed in killing the three men. Josh wears the only clothing that has not damaged and discovers a strange research center where he finds Wendi dead. He shoots on three men and returns to the shelter. Soon the group learns that the invaders have welded their access door from outside and they are trapped inside the bunker. Marilyn and Sam get crazy and the tense situation and the lack of water and food bring frictions among Mickey, Delvin, Bobby and Josh. When Delvin finds a panic room hidden in Mickey's room, they fight and ...

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Plot Keywords:

explosion | basement | nuclear explosion | shelter | throat slitting | 

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Taglines:

The lucky ones died in the blast.

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing strong violence and sexuality, and for pervasive language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

Germany USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 April 2012 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Aislados

Filming Locations:

Manitoba Production Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$18,000 (USA) (13 January 2012)

Gross:

$22,000 (USA) (13 January 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Instinctive Film, Preferred Content, BR Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in chronological sequence.

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Goofs

The men in white suits cut open part of the door but later on this hole disappears.

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Quotes

Mickey: Let there be light.

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Connections

Referenced in Inside Horror: Bloody Valentines (2012)

User Reviews

FantAsia Pleaser that Leaves Little Hope for Humanity

I attended the almost sold out screening of "The Divide" at Montreal FantAsia Film Festival with special guest Xavier Gens (director), Michael Biehn (actor) and Michael Eklund (actor).

The crowd, as always at FantAsia, was very engaged and energetic. However, as the horror story unfolded (not exactly horror genre film, save for a few scenes, but horrific in the psychological debacle of its characters), the crowd got quiet and silently absorbed the very well-crafted human drama. The performances felt real. The mood was perfectly dark and doomish. This post-apocalyptic take on humanity is not the most positive, but it is positively one of the best! The cinematography and few special effects are good, especially for the budget. We learned in the Q&A that the film was going to be canned, but that an intern in Winnipeg (Canada), said that his parents could finance the film and fork the few millions needed to finish the project. Great thing they did! This detachment from market-driving founding also allowed for greater artistic freedom and the three guests really explained how Xavier Gens challenged his actors (and some times cameramen) to improvise, be creative, immerse themselves in their characters, and serve the story and the film. The two Michaels were thrilled to worked this way and brought many contributions, while they also mentioned how Lauren German was a more by-the-book actress and they all had to event ploys to get her to be surprised and spontaneous. They all genuinely felt it was the best filmed to work on in their lives, although staying in character after shooting made for some tense sets and after-set (hotel) interactions. Gens choose to film the movie in chronological order, encouraged his actors to starve themselves (which Eklund did to the maximum) and let their mind go as the film reel rolled. Having written a novel in chronological order, I understand exactly what latitude that gives in character development. The story takes unexpected turns, but feels right, cognitive and consistent.

The story with its sci-fi elements briefly introduces a world of wonder, before shutting the door closed on hope and humanity. It is saved by sparkles of effective comedy, but transgresses into a struggle to survive at any price. What is there left? Humanity? Dignity? Love? Compassion? Not really.

As dark is it it, this vision hopefully encourages us to do better in our own lives. No need to wait for a nuclear explosion to figure out what is our desired behaviour for betterment.