The Horror Show
The Domestics
by Mike P. Nelson
Another day, another post-apocalyptic flick. In the case of The Domestics, starring Kate Bosworth and Tyler Hoechlin, a government-inflicted attack stirs up waves of chaos. Yet, somewhere throughout the storyline, Mike P. Nelson’s feature debut loses its nerve.
After an unexplained poison outbreak blows up across the United States, the survivors — those immune — are left struggling for survival and fighting against each other. In such an apocalyptic setting, Nelson’s story follows a married couple, Nina and Mark, who are on the verge of divorce. Believing that reuniting with their family will instill new hope into their failed marriage, the two main characters embark on a journey to Milwaukee amidst the sinister American landscape full of savage gangs of survivors called “the domestics”.
As expected, their endeavor is bungled by violence and death. Nelson clearly went for a Purge-like reality. Not that it actually matters for the story to unfold, but there is not much of an explanation as to the backstory of the government’s decision to wipe out most of the population. Those who are left behind, though, are in a constant survival-of-the-fittest mode.
The first feature effort from director and writer Mike P. Nelson has some well-staged action and gore to keep us genre fans satisfied. Albeit action-packed, The Domestics fails to succeed in one crucial factor: the characters. The chemistry between Bosworth and Hoechlin is weak and doesn’t reach its full potential at any point. Not only is the duo struggling to make their marriage work, but they are also struggling to help The Domestics find its heartbeat.
Considering, though, that the post-apocalyptic sub-genre has seen many features in its time, Nelson’s work is not the worst out there. On the contrary, he makes a solid effort to innovate just a bit in order to deliver something refreshing. It’s not entirely successful, but reasonably okay.
Maria Kriva, HMS
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