Trivia / The Divide

• Actor-Inspired Element: Michael Ecklund suggested that Bobby wear Marilyn's nightgown in the final act.
• Creator Breakdown: Subverted. Milo Ventimiglia's mother - whom he'd originally forbidden to see the movie - was afraid he'd suffered a traumatic experience she didn't know about because his performance was that disturbing.
• The Danza: Michael Biehn as Mickey.
• Dawson Casting: Abbey Thickson, who played Wendi - the little girl who was abducted - was 13 when the movie was released, and playing a girl who seemed much younger. Not surprisingly, she wasn't allowed to see the movie despite being in it.
• Dyeing for Your Art: Both Milo Ventimiglia and Michael Ecklund shaved their heads on camera.
• Enforced Method Acting: To prepare for the animosity between everyone in Mickey's torture scene, Milo Ventimiglia spent the day screaming and shouting at the other actors. This had the result that Eva ends up yelling at Josh when she hadn't been down to in the script; because Lauren German was that Lost in Character.
• One-Take Wonder: The haircutting scenes were done in one take.
• Playing with Character Type: Milo Ventimiglia got fame for playing Nice Guys in Gilmore Girls and Heroes. Josh does start out like a seemingly normal and reasonable guy, his sanity goes and he ends up raping Marilyn regularly and becoming a full on antagonist. Sure enough, he was originally going to play Adrien, but asked to play a more villainous role for a change.
• Real-Life Relative: Michael Biehn's real wife (Jennifer Blanc-Biehn) is used for the pictures of Mickey's wife in the film.
• Throw It In!: Bobby imitating the magic trick with Mickey's cut-off finger was improvised by Michael Ecklund.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Originally titled 'The Shelter', it was then changed to 'Fallout' but then 'The Divide' to avoid confusion with the video game.
  • Mickey was more overtly racist in the first draft, but toned down to be an Anti-Villain as time went on.