Gens’ Horror Flick ‘The Divide’ Gets Picked Up by Anchor Bay

It’s every man for himself when a mysterious bomb hits New York City in Xavier Gens’ apocalyptic horror film The Divide. It premiered at SXSW this weekend and instantly generated a lot of attention, but it was Anchor Bay making a winning bid in the low seven figures making it the biggest deal this year made at SXSW, and possibly ever in the history of the festival. The psychological thriller stars sci-fi legend Michael Biehn, Milo Ventimiglia and the ever so talented Rosanna Arquette as tenants of an apartment building who seek refuge in a bunker underneath their apartment after disaster strikes.

Gist: When a mysterious cataclysmic bomb devastates New York, eight strangers take refuge in the basement of their apartment building. The residents soon succumb to cabin fever as fear of sickness, dwindling supplies, and ruthless outside invaders, plays on their mind.

Worth Noting: French director Gens is no stranger to gore and violence; his previous films include the action packed video-game adaptation of Hitman (which brought him stateside for the indie film that just got bought) and the gruesomely blood-filled French film Frontier(s). His next project will be directing a segment of the horror compilation Paris I’ll Kill You, a film which will also feature shorts directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins), Paco Plaza ([REC]), and Vincenzo Natali (Splice).

Do We Care?: With 9/11, it’s the background/skyline of Los Angeles that has been pelted on time and time again, we look forward to the Big Apple getting its fir share. Gens’ latest film has already gotten a few early positive reviews; critics are calling it ‘better than your average horror film’ as it also explores the deepest “darkest side” of human nature – something that hostage survivor Ingrid Betancourt might have experienced.