Having been able to attend both the SXSW Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival this year, there have been many films to qualify as true-blue surprises in the eyes of this writer. Be it the brilliance of Aki Kaurismaki’s Le Havre or the terror-induced by Insidious, it has been a relatively eventful year. However, one of the biggest surprises came from one of the film world’s most maligned genre experts.

I got the chance to see Xavier Gens’ (Hitman) latest film, The Divide at SXSW this year, and it quickly became one of my favorite genre pieces this year. And now, the world, thanks to Anchor Bay, will not only get to see this shockingly great, if intensely brooding, bit of apocalyptic filmmaking, but see in its original state.

The studio has announced that they will be releasing the uncut director’s cut of Gen’s film, on January 13, 2012, into theaters. The film follows nine people who “escape a nuclear attack by hiding out in the building’s bunker-like basement. Trapped for days underground with no hope for rescue, and only unspeakable horrors awaiting them on the other side of the bunker door, the group begins to descend into madness, each turning on one another with physical and psycho-sexual torment. As supplies dwindle, and tensions flare, they grow increasingly unhinged by their close quarters and hopelessness. Each act against one another becomes more depraved than the next. While everyone in the bunker allows themselves to be overcome by desperation and lose their humanity, one survivor holds onto a thin chance for escape, even with no promise of salvation on the outside.” It stars Lauren German, Michael Biehn, and Milo Ventimiglia.

Personally, as a huge fan of both the film and Anchor Bay, this is a perfect match. I think the film could ultimately be a bit of a cult hit, particularly amongst those with a passion for pitch black thrillers. Here’s to hoping that both involved get exactly what they deserve.

What do you think?