The Review at a Glance: ( max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
82
Studio and Year: Anchor Bay Films - 2011
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Feature running time: 122 minutes
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Disc Format: BD-25
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 1.85:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Rosanna Arquette, Lauren German, Ashton Holmes, Michael Biehn, Milo Ventimiglia, Courtney B. Vance, Michael Eklund, Iván González
Directed by: Xavier Gens
Music by: Jean-Pierre Taieb
Written by: Karl Mueller, Eron Sheean
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: April 17, 2012
"The lucky ones died in the blast."
Film Synopsis:
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.
My Take:
The Divide is the perfect title for this film. It not only describes the dynamic of the survivors, but the decent build of the first half and the nose dive into a drinking game worthy second half.The film opens in a NYC apartment building as nukes start touching down on American soil. Know one knows the who or why of this attack, but in a panic eight tenants including Lauren German (Hostel II), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), Rosanna Arquette (Pulp Fiction) and the buildings super, Micky (Michael Biehn- Terminator, Planet Terror), end up alive and stuck in the basement. Thankfully the buildings super Mickey is a bit of a loon and has been preparing for an event like this, having a secret stockpile of supplies. From uncertainty and fear to paranoia and desperation, we see how these strangers react to these close quarters with the knowledge of no way out and dwindling supplies. As their internal divide begins, we see them shed their last bits of humanity the closer they get to the inevitable end.
The film did begin well. We meet the characters, see their reactions and feel their fear and claustrophobia as they are stuck in the shelter of the basement. When the group are found by men in Hazmat suits out, they are forced to kill or be killed. Before the clash is through Marilyn's (Rosanna Arquette) daughter Wendi is taken. Josh (Milo Ventimiglia) gets a suit from one of the casualties and ventures out to find air-tight tunnels placed from outside their door to a lab. When he finds Wendi there, shaved head and intubated, he is chased back and the survivors door is welded shut. This is the other divide, as from this point out the film concentrates on the insanity that these people become and put each other trough, and drops what is happening outside and who these men are and what they are doing with the girl.
The movie really tanked from this point and lost all it had built and what it had going for it. It just wasn't the story I wanted it to tell, and I thought the one it did favor got tiresome quick. It was obvious these humans would go crazy and do what it took to survive. The loss of humanity, and what we will do to live in desperation tale just became a bit cliché and silly to me. The characters lost any slight bit of depth that was built and all became unlikeable, laughable and annoying. I really started off on this one's side this but ended up hating how darn laughable it became.
Parental Guide:
Disturbing strong violence and sexuality, and for pervasive language
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 84
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Video: 80
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
The Divide comes Blu-ray Disc from Anchor Bay Entertainment & Starz featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 22.2 mbps and Dolby TrueHD sound that has an average bitrate of 3.1 mbps
The films video presentation isn't anything special and its transfer on to Blu-ray just helps see that even more. Details are decent, however the dark surroundings don't help as I noticed some crushing in the shadow. The drab grayish color palette kills any wow factor, but hey, this is what the filmmakers were intending as this is a dreary and depressing tale (though laughable at many moments) and the imagery sure fits. Don't let the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack fool you, this one sure didn't utilize surrounds as much as one would expect. The films does begin with a bang (you know, that nuke I talked about) and the first few minutes do sound great. The explosion and building crashing gave my sub a nice healthy workout and the groups frantic descent to find the basement shelter sounded just as frantic in the surround channels. After that it was just a lot of talking, whining and yelling that all came across as clear is it was annoying. Decent but nothing spectacular.
Bonus Features:
- Audio Commentary with Director Xavier Gens and Actors Michael Biehn, Michael Eklund and Milo Ventimiglia
- (HD) Trailer
- DVD Copy
Final Thoughts:
I really started off on this one's side this but ended up hating how darn laughable The Divide became. I have read some people who were in favor of it, really soaking in its desperation and feel. Maybe I missed something, but I just couldn't buy into it at all. The video and audio are worthy of Blu-ray, but nothing memorable. I rarely do, but I suggest a straight up pass on this baby. Blah!
Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS45 3D 1080p 3D High Definition Front Projector
Screen Innovations Solar HD 1.3 120" 2.40:1 CinemaScope Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 Pre/Pro
Sunfire Theater Grand 7201 Amplifier
Sony PS3 Slim Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
MK Sound S-150MKII LCR
MK Sound S-150T Tripole Surrounds
MK Sound MX-350MKII Subwoofer
