Review -- Divinity

                                     

There is not enough attention being paid in current cinema culture to oddball, bizarre, often literally out-of-this-world themes. Science fiction in particular has room for such topics, with its modus operandi lending itself well to curiosities. Most recent science fiction entries have either dealt with warfare (The Tomorrow War), dystopia (Mickey 17) or AI threats (Afraid or, if you want to go all fancy and stylized, AfrAId), with rarities like The Substance and Titane daring to do something different. One of the most unique movies that you will ever see, Eddie Alcazar's Divinity blends techniques and themes to create a truly original genre piece dealing with timely questions and dilemmas. 

While future Earth is grappling with infertility, scientist Sterling Pierce (Scott Bakula) is working on a serum called Divinity that could solve the crisis and eventually lead to immortality. Years after his death, his eccentric son (Stephen Dorff) has taken over production, with the drug now being abused for superficial purposes. One day, two alien brothers (Moises Arias, Jason Genao) kidnap Jaxxon and inject him with an overdose of Divinity, all while a group of women led by the mysterious Ziva (Bella Thorne) prepare their plans for a new world order...

A movie that transports you into another realm, Divinity is Alcazar's second science fiction feature after 2018's Perfect. It follows his lyrical, haunting and deeply moving short Vandal -- if you have not seen it, go to Youtube right now and watch it. Do not wait. But I digress. Divinity employs techniques such as black and white cinematography and stop motion animation for an experience that is both claustrophobic in its oppressive themes and freeing in its bold vision. Had it been in color and looked like your everyday blockbuster, it would have lost a lot of its flair; the black-and-white esthetic gives the story a sense of a techno dystopia, of a society that has got so lost in its false ideals and artificial promises that there is nothing left. Even though we follow merely two corners of this world -- Jaxxon's kidnapping and torture, with occasional glimpses at the Pure women, unaffected by Divinity -- these scenes alone are unusual and jarring enough to show the cold sterility of this unenviable future and the effect would not have been the same if Alcazar had used a broader palette. The animation is also an unexpected, artistic touch, further showing what kind of zany universe we are dealing with. Nothing is what it seems and you will definitely see what you do not expect.

The theme of infertility has been explored quite a few times in science fiction and speculative fiction, most notably in Children of Men and The Handmaid's Tale. Instead of depicting it as a catalyst for societal collapse, Divinity examines it as motivation for corporate greed and relentless hedonism. It is easy to imagine anyone from the 1% making decisions about women's bodies and choices, especially if they manage to seduce ignorant masses as a side effect; on that note, the timely nature of the movie's themes is chilling. I do wish that Alcazar had delved deeper into this aspect, since this part of the story could have made the movie evolve into an even more profound social commentary. I also wish that we could have seen more of the Pure women and their agenda. This movement does not appear too different from the Divinity crowds; both groups are cults in their own way, discouraging individualism and independent thought while looking out for their own. In that regard, cult behavior and mob mentality are also subjects that the movie could have had a field day with.

The cast is well chosen. Dorff is excellent as an offbeat scientist who fails to see the forest for the trees, whose ideals have turned into mere materialism along the way and who ends up paying a karmic price for his greed. Arias and Genao are offbeat and unpredictable as the two alien kidnappers, while Tran is ethereal as Nikita, a woman with a secret. Thorne is good as the enigmatic leader of the Pure movement and so is Bakula as the scientist who opens Pandora's Box when it comes to one of humanity's greatest yearnings.

A trippy journey into a strange world, Divinity deals with some well-timed topics wrapped in a rich and innovative ambience. Reminiscent of German expressionism and its emphasis on visuals and inner life, the movie is a true original in a sea of sequels, remakes and reboots. I look forward to seeing what Alcazar does next. Lose yourself in his microcosm of cold-hearted immortality and be thankful that this reality is not yours.

10/10