Film Review: DIVINITY (2023): Eddie Alcazar’s Science Fiction Film is Flawed but Also Unique and Interesting

Divinity Review

Divinity (2023) Film Review, a movie written and directed by Eddie Alcazar and starring Stephen Dorff, Scott Bakula, Moises Arias, Jason Genao, Karrueche Tran, Bella Thorne, Caylee Cowan, Michael O’Hearn, Emily Willis, Brennah Black, Daniella Maximillian-Almeda, Sawyer Jones, Moses Jackson, Renee Herbert, Lydia Bielen, Kristen Rose, Elisha Herbert and Clara Carlo.

Eddie Alcazar’s Divinity is the type of film that will stand out in its viewers’ minds whether one loves it or hates it. And, love it or hate you will. It will have that sort of effect on people.

This is a creative movie that will make some of the weirdest, wildest films ever made such as Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! look like pure mainstream entertainment. OK, I wouldn’t go that far but Divinity breaks the mold of science fiction pictures with an ingenious premise and a terrific lead performance by Stephen Dorff as a character who could have been the hero of the movie but, instead, becomes the villain by default. Alcazar doesn’t make the material he presents here inaccessible but by shooting it in black-and-white, he makes his film very bleak and very distinct.

Dorff is perfectly cast as a mad scientist named Jaxxon Pierce who holds a grudge against his father, Sterling (Scott Bakula) who created a formula that has changed the way life exists in the world that Divinity showcases. Sterling’s creation has led to the development of a serum that grants its users the gift of immortality. We don’t know how crazy Jaxxon is at first. When he’s tied up by a couple of brothers each named Star (Moises Arias and Jason Genao), Jaxxon literally ends up getting a taste of his own medicine, and not in a good way.

The plot really becomes interesting when the brothers form a ménage à trois with a hooker named Nikita (Karrueche Tran) who comes calling for Jaxxon but ends up with the brothers, also by default. Nikita thinks the large home she finds herself in is creepy and when she finds Jaxxon tied up with the wonder drug being given to him in large increments, she tries to free him. Jaxxon’s head and face is slowly turning into a bulky, bumpy fusion that will remind viewers of The Elephant Man. Unfortunately, it’s going to get worse for Jaxxon as the movie continues.

Soon, a bunch of good-looking people with buff bodies arrive to Jaxxon’s home to celebrate a special occasion and all hell breaks loose. What happens next is relatively tame in comparison to the film’s ending. First, a key character shoots one of the brothers. Not a big deal, though. It’s when the hulky Jaxxon ends up becoming a monster (due to overdoses of the drug) that the whole concept of the movie changes and turns it into more of a creature feature than was expected. By the end of the film, it feels like a cross between the video game Street Fighter and King Kong.

Dorff is splendid as the movie delves deep into his character’s psyche as it explores how this character’s troubled relationship with his father led him on a power trip that has turned the world upside down, mostly for the worst. The flashback scenes with Dorff and Bakula are among the best in the film with detailed scientific explanations that sound credible whether they are or not.

Arias and Genao play the brothers extremely well. At first, viewers may root against them but they, in actuality, seem to be the heroes here. Well, they are definitely the good guys in contrast to Jaxxon. However, Tran’s Nikita is the most relatable of the movie’s stars and though Tran has some cheesy dialogue, her performance overcomes some script problems, to become one of the highlights of the picture. Tran’s charismatic personality carries the movie more than was initially expected.

Bella Thorne makes an appearance in a part referred to in the credits as Ziva. To be honest, I didn’t recognize that it was Thorne playing the role which may be a good thing. Thorne blends into her role so well that you probably won’t even realize it’s her either.

Eddie Alcazar delivers disturbing plot revelations that involve fetuses and the scenes towards the end are simply, for lack of a better word, bonkers. Despite the inanity of the events that transpire, you won’t be able to keep your eyes off the screen if you like oddball science fiction movies such as this one. Films like this are few and far between. This is a movie that seems to be vying for cult classic status. It can remind one of some old classic science fiction films in terms of its overall look. Alcazar probably used black-and-white to pay homage to those types of pictures. But, then again, maybe he was just trying to do something different. For the most part, he succeeded.

If Divinity features Dorff at his best and holds the viewer’s attention from beginning to end, it must be inspired enough to warrant a recommendation. But, the movie may work best starting it at 11 PM on a Saturday night.

Rating: 7/10

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