Post-apocalyptic dystopian fiction is all the rage these days. If it's not zombies ravaging America's heartland, it's nuclear annihilation, meteorite bombardment, or even an errant planet crashing into the Earth.
One senses the zeitgeist is a sort of vengeful collective urge to just tear down everything - either out of utter frustration with the status quo, or in hopes of building something better.
When a stunningly bleak fantasy like Cormac McCarthy's The Road ascends to the top of the NY Times bestsellers list, it's indicative of a popularity that's more than just a passing phase. And then there's the long list of video games like Bethesda Softworks' brilliant smash hit Fallout 3, which sold well over 5 million units despite being initially banned in Australia for drug references.
Of course, this fascination with the bleak is hardly new; even prehistoric Mesopotamians and Egyptians reveled in stories of the vengeful fury of the gods. But as some of the darker predictions of Aldous Huxley, George Orwell and Ray Bradbury begin to morph into reality, and as the world's "haves" and "have nots" glare in mutual hatred across the growing chasm of economic disparity, one can almost hear a low, feral growl of discontent and barely suppressed rage on the street: human beings, we all too frequently forget, are but one more among the animal species, and predators at that.
The Divide, by French ultraviolence auteur Xavier Gens (Frontiers, The Horde, Hit-man, etc.) drives that point home with shocking force.
As nuclear destruction rains down upon Manhattan, a disparate group of typical apartment dwellers are forced to shelter in the basement for agonizing weeks, watching their supplies and hopes dwindle.
The building's superintendent is crusty survivalist Mickey - portrayed convincingly by Michael Biehn, best known as John Connor from the Terminator. Mickey's something of a weasel, but crafty, and has prepared an amply-stocked fallout shelter in advance of the terrorist strike that culminates in a rain of dirty bombs on New York City. He's reluctantly forced to take in eight other survivors who manage to force their way into his shelter during the mob panic after the initial blasts.
Mickey's an unapologetic bastard, and his hard edge wins him the enmity of those he's reluctantly taken in, as, like overcrowded rats in a cage, the survivors begin to turn upon one another and fight for dominance. The dynamic is reminiscent of William Golding's Lord of the Flies; as hope and humanity begin to crumble, the group's inner savagery is gradually exposed.
The situation explodes with the discovery that their reluctant host has been "holding out" with a secret stash of food. Stunning cruelty and betrayal after betrayal then compound upon one another until the shocking conclusion.
Although slightly marred by an inexplicable and superfluous kidnapping scene, in general the plot's exciting, dodges clichés, and the cast drive it forward with admirable skill. I found Mickey the most sympathetic of the characters, although each manages to sink to reprehensible lows at some point in the story. Perhaps this is why the movie maintains interest - there's an ambiguity that is compelling - none of the characters are snowy white nor purely evil.
Throughout the story, Lauren German's wickedly lovely eyes convey a fetching, stunned naivete as her main character Eva (perhaps a derivative of "Eve" - inheritor of a new world?) witnesses the increasingly Hellish events unfold.
Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli in Heroes) and Michael Eklund (narcotics detective Rene Dejardins in CBC's Intelligence) are chillingly convincing as a pair of goons who grow increasingly brutal and amoral as their sanity erodes from fear and radiation sickness. But Rosanna Arquette's break with reality provides some of the most horrific moments.
Acclaimed French cinematographer Laurent Barès, who teamed up with Gens to produce Frontiers, Hit-man, À l'intérieur and La Horde, adds his signature stylism, delivering a masterful interplay of shadow and light.
Unfortunately, for all its merits, the Divide bombed spectacularly in theaters, generating a jaw-dropping total of only $18,000 in its opening week before being relegated to DVD purgatory. That's a shame, as this is clearly a superior shocker, deserving of greater recognition within the genre. While it doesn't break any new ground, it certainly delivers on its promise, with memorably shocking and chilling moments viewers aren't likely to forget.
Were it not for the aforementioned plot hole, this film would earn higher marks, but as it stands, I still rate it at an eight out of ten, and would definitely recommend it to friends for a "scary movie night".
The Divide (Thriller, 2011, 110 min.) Directed by Xavier Gens; written by Karl Mueller, Eron Sheean; starring Lauren German, Michael Biehn, Milo Ventimiglia, Courtney B. Vance, and Rosanna Arquette.
6 out of 14 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Tell Your Friends