DIVINITY is a very strange sci-fi movie that sometimes threatens to implode on itself because it is an art film that sometimes doesn't know when enough is enough and where to focus on the parts of the plot that need more detail. It sometimes reaches beyond the limitations of its budget where you get a scene that combines live action and claymation, but that is the case where DIVINITY fails. It is an interesting and yet screwed up speculative sci-fi film. DIVINITY takes place on another world where humanity has been divided in the world of those who can give birth or those who chose to take divinity and remain forever youthful. Also you have some sisterhood beyond time and space who want to right the balance of life that Divinity is disrupting. The movie starts with two twin brothers who descend on a remote house in the desert. In that house is the son (Stephen Dorff) of the creator (Scott Bakula) of Divinity and the son has marketed Divinity in a way that his father didn't want it to be. He lives a life of decadence where he has any pretty young girl while he works tirelessly to fix the flaws in Divinity. He is taken prisoner by the brothers who go on to inject him with the pure undiluted form of Divinity. The pure form of Divinity has unintended side effects while the brothers decide to take part in the lifestyle of the rich.

DIVINITY is unique as most of the movie except one scene is in grainy black and white. It is an art house sci-fi film that will turn some viewers off by the ideas and the excess of nudity (and sex). The ones who don't like DIVINITY want more of a straight sci-fi action/ adventure film. This movie will not be for everyone.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
THE MIDNIGHT MOVIE IS DEAD (60 minutes)- Audio conversation with writer/ director Eddie Alcazar and producer Steven Soderbergh, moderated by Justin LaLiberty (from Vinegar Syndrome). It is an interesting conversation of how DIVINITY came to be made and talk of independent films in general.

THE MODERN PROMETHEUS: DIVINITY AND SPECULATIVE SCIENCE FICTION (16 minutes)- a video essay by author/ film historian Samm Deighan discussing the origins and history of speculative sci-fi in regards to Divinity. This essay will give you ideas for other speculative sci-fi movies to check out (if you haven’t seen them) like HARD TO BE A GOD, SOLARIS, and STALKER).
10 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage presented in a way that you think it could have been shot on VHS.

Theatrical trailer
Sundance trailer
Three character teasers (Jupiter, Miki, Ogg)
Still Gallery
28 page booklet that includes an essay by Ariel Esteban Cayer

FINAL ANALYSIS: DIVINITY is an interesting speculative sci-fi movie that is sometimes frustrating and flawed. It is a movie that will have a cult following and the general public won't embrace it. The blu-ray is wonderful and the film is for those speculative sci-fi fans, but it will probably still divide people in those who love it and those who hate it.

This blu-ray review is ©3-13-2024 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com