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Parents' Guide to

The Divide

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Grim, unpleasant, gruesome nuclear holocaust thriller.

Movie R 2012 121 minutes
The Divide Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Brutaltruth21
Brutaltruth21 Adult
March 19, 2021
age 18+

Although realistic it's despicable

Movie includes graphic sexual depravity& language including brutal rape. It's what would happen if you had the most evil of people trapped in 1 room. 7 men 2 women. Use your imagination there. Disgusting language, scenes of sexual depravity at its worst, rape, torture and plain evil. Not to mention stupid.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
lottichapman
lottichapman Parent of 13-year-old
October 6, 2018
age 18+

Terrible

I normally like post apocalyptic movies, but this was awful. It is filled with extreme violence, rape, torture, sadistic behaviour. I also have a very strong stomach, but foundbthis too much, most of it is completely unnecessary and is definitely not for kids.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As a nuclear bomb drops, a band of humans races down into the basement of an apartment building, where the super, Mickey (Michael Biehn), has prepared a stockpile of food and survival tools. At first they hope for survival -- but instead they're attacked by men in radiation suits, who kidnap a little girl. After that, the group falls apart, slowly turning on one another and slipping into degradation, chaos, and violent struggles for power. Only one among them, Eva (Lauren German), seems to have enough heart to survive.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (2 ):

The Divide is both extremely dismal and extremely uncomfortable. Though nuclear holocaust movies are grim and depressing as a rule, it's certainly possible to make good movies in the genre, such as 2009's The Road. But this one aims for a dark, cutthroat tone, focusing on exploitation elements without the thrills that are usually involved.

The characters consist of a bunch of standard-issue types that are easily manipulated into conflict without much challenge or depth. Only Rosanna Arquette as a grieving mother seems to go the extra mile. Director Xavier Gens lets his camera restlessly roam the basement corridors without much else to do, and the effect is like pacing; it's tense, but in a bad way. Finally, at 122 minutes, the movie is needlessly, relentlessly, torturously long. Bottom line? Avoid this at all costs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Divide's brutal, gruesome violence. Is it necessary to the story? How else could this movie have made its point?

  • Is there any glimmer of hope in this story? Is it possible for kindness and empathy to win the day over savagery?

  • Eva is arguably the most likable character here; do you consider her a role model?

  • How does the movie portray sex? What message does that send to viewers?

Movie Details

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