Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Divinity’

8/6/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Bella Thorne as Ziya in Eddie Alcazar’s DIVINITY. (Photo Courtesy of Shudder.)

It really is quite amazing how far the horror genre has come over the past forty years. For it has gone from being a weekend evening activity amongst a small group of friends, one complete with pizza and soda and the finest VHS player known to man… to an outright phenomenon. Because now, people are packing theaters to see scary movies, and they are adored and beloved and are attracting top talent left and right and as an added bonus, horror is now mainstream on television and… it’s quickly evolving before our eyes from a storytelling standpoint as well.

For gone are the days where horror was either purely straightforward or filled with social commentary through its monsters. The genre is now elevating its game with stories that can be quite dramatic and moving, and scary… or they explore our deepest personal fears and biggest flaws. Simply because mainstream has allowed for everyone to understand the genre’s potential and explore it at the highest level, and it most certainly isn’t done growing and evolving just yet. For a new horror film on Shudder has showcased the reality that there are some creatives eager to see what the genre could accomplish if arthouse elements and hard avant-garde were injected into its fabric and that makes, Divinity, quite the unique feature.

In part because of its plot. For it plunges us into a world where something miraculous has taken place. In that, immortality has been achieved, courtesy of the Pierce family. Since the brilliant Sterling’s work was continued by his son Jaxxon, who figured out how to extend our biological life and thus, bring forth the death of death via his potion… Divinity. But truth be told, this magnificent discovery has been nothing but a curse. For humanity has grown complacent and egotistical about its standing, and birth rates have plummeted. Which prompts celestial beings from multiple planes of existence to come forth and explore this world and understand why it has grown so stagnant with such a gift and what they will uncover is sorrowful to say the least.

Which really is quite the art house plot for a horror film, one that is reinforced by a great deal of fascinating visual elements from writer/director Eddie Alcazar. Who made the decision to film this story in black and white, and in a manner that is both futuristic and retro, lending license to the thematic notion that mankind has advanced yet regressed by cheating death. And of course, the visuals that Eddie chooses beyond that particular point, really do feel quite avant-garde in nature. Courtesy of unique camera angles, and quick cuts that are supremely jarring in nature. Lending a nightmarish feel to the story, one that doesn’t end, and assaults one’s senses along the way. Giving rise to a vibe that is genuinely uncommon in horror.

In fact, some might say, that none of this is horror related at all, because visuals don’t always equate to horror. But the scary stuff is there since Alcazar blends elements of elevated horror into this story to create a tale that plucks at a very real fear in all of us. Specifically, our fear of death. For this feature does indeed ponder upon how we want more life and fear the void and how the death of a loved one can deeply traumatize us and push us into mental spaces and actions that are destructive. Which are concepts that horror is eager to explore now because of how deeply rooted those fears are in our society, and it handles them well and brings forth some fascinating concepts in doing so, especially when it comes to the source of Divinity.

However, while those are indeed elements to celebrate, as are the performances here from Stephen Dorff (Jaxxon), Scott Bakula (Sterling), and Bella Thorne (Ziya), make no mistake about it… this is a very different kind of horror film. For some may find the arthouse nature of the story jarring and off-putting, and it does offer up some supremely off-the-wall visuals and moments that some hardcore horror fans might not like in the slightest. So, it is important to warn ahead of time, but if you can look past that and are eager to see something new, then this movie is right up your alley. For it is inventive and refreshing and truly a piece of art. One that showcases how engrained horror is in the pop culture landscape and what it can accomplish with the right auteur at the helm.

Watch ‘Divinity’

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