The Domestics

2018 American film

The Domestics

Promotional poster

Directed by| Mike P. Nelson
Written by| Mike P. Nelson
Produced by|

* Shannon Gaulding
* Gianni Nunnari

Starring|

* Tyler Hoechlin
* Kate Bosworth
* Lance Reddick
* Sonoya Mizuno
* Dana Gourrier
* Thomas Francis Murray
* David Dastmalchian

Cinematography| Maxime Alexandre
Edited by| Julia Wong
Music by| Nathan Barr

Production
company

* Hollywood Gang Productions

Distributed by| Orion Classics

Release date

* June 28, 2018 (2018-06-28) (United States)

Running time

| 95 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $10.6 million[1]
Box office| $59,766[2]

The Domestics is a 2018 American post-apocalyptic action horror film directed and written by Mike P. Nelson. The film stars Kate Bosworth and Tyler Hoechlin.

The film was released on June 28, 2018, by Orion Classics.

## Plot[edit]

The global ruling class of humanity conducts a catastrophic chemical weapons attack on the American populace to "reset" society and the overflowing population. The surviving percentage of America has divided into two groups: the Gangs who control territory and go by their respective themes; The Gamblers, Sheets, Plowboys, Nailers, and Cherries; and the Domestics, those not affiliated with the Gangs who wish to live in peace and have not given in to their violent nature.

Domestic couple Mark and Nina West are traveling to Milwaukee to see Nina’s parents while dealing with the decision of getting a divorce before everything happened. While scavenging for supplies they are met by another survivor Nathan Wood and his son Steven who together escape from a small group of Nailers. Mark and Nina are invited to Nathan’s home to meet his wife and daughter but it ends in tragedy after discovering they were fed human meat and a surviving Nailer followed them, injuring Nina causing her and Mark to flee leaving the Woods behind where the Nailer kills Nathan’s wife and daughter. Nathan kills the Nailer but swears revenge and calls up some of his Plowboy contacts on his CB Radio about the Wests.

The Wests make it to an abandoned house unaware they’ve been followed by a deserter Cherry named Betsy who escaped Plowboys’ slave captivity and has developed a fascination for Nina. Mark goes looking for supplies but is later held at gunpoint by William Cunningham, a flamboyant madman, and forced to fight against his large slave after he discovers William has beaten and captured Nathan and Steven who caught up to the Wests. Nina awakes, finds a bottle of alcohol, puts on a Heavy Metal record Mark left for her and begins drunk dancing while Mark fights the slave. He eventually wins the fight and kills a fleeing William. The slave is freed by Mark out of sympathy for William mistreating him earlier and Nathan departs, forgiving Mark and giving up his quest for vengeance wishing Mark and Nina good luck.

Mark reunites with Nina at the house, who finds an old car similar to what Mark once owned when they first began dating. The two rekindle their passion but are unaware the car belongs to Gamblers who arrive and capture them. They're forced into a game of Russian Roulette with Mark taking the bullet in the shoulder for Nina. Nina makes their escape after grabbing a gun from a distracted Gambler’s boot and stealing a car, finally making it to her parents' house to treat Mark's wounds and reunite with her parents.

Nina learns sadly from the neighbors her parents had died earlier, Mark awakens later and discovers her father’s prized Wildey Hunter Pistol has been stolen. The Gamblers have caught up to them along with all the other Gangs and Betsy. A showdown begins resulting in a violent and bloody battle with all sides suffering massive casualties. In the end, Nina and Mark win the fight, the Gangs retreat with their remaining members, and Betsy returns Nina’s wedding ring to Mark that Nina had left at the abandoned house remarking "for her" after which she's shot from behind in the head with Nina killing Betsy's killer afterward. Nina finds her father's gun at a neighbor's home who was a Gambler spy, later revealed to be killed by a neighbor's kid who is revealed to be part of a rumored gang of young killers Nathan mentioned earlier.

Mark and Nina take a moment to catch their breath at Nina's parents' house and embrace each other. They later pack up and leave turning on the radio with Crazy Al, a DJ who has been sending broadcast updates about the current state of America warning the Gangs and other survivors not to mess with Mark and Nina.

## Cast[edit]

* Tyler Hoechlin as Mark West
* Kate Bosworth as Nina Monroe West
* Lance Reddick as Nathan Wood
* Sonoya Mizuno as Betsy
* Dana Gourrier as Wanda
* Jacinte Blankenship as Theresa Wood
*   * Thomas Francis Murphy as Plowboy Jim
* David Dastmalchian as Willy Cunningham
* Lee Perkins as Dean the Nailer
* Kaden Washington Lewis as Steven Wood
* Mikaela Kimani Armstrong as Bella Wood

## Production[edit]

On March 24, 2016, it was announced that Mike P. Nelson would direct the post-apocalyptic thriller film The Domestics from his own script, for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Hollywood Gang Productions. Gianni Nunnari and Shannon Gaulding would produce the film.[3] On September 8, 2016, Kate Bosworth and Tyler Hoechlin were cast to star in the film.[4] The movie was filmed in Louisiana.

Stunt performer Deven MacNair filed an EEOC anti-discrimination lawsuit against producers of the film over an incident of "wigging", the practice of using a stunt performer that does not match either the sex or race of the actor, which is against SAG-AFTRA rules.[5][6]

## Release[edit]

In May 2018, Orion Classics acquired distribution rights to the film and set it for a June 28, 2018, release.[7]

## Reception[edit]

The film has received favorable reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 100% approval rating based on six reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10.[8]

Robbie Collin of The Telegraph gave it a positive review and wrote: "It's all good grim fun, with a visceral kick."[9]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Fastlane NextGen: Initial Certification Search" (Type "Domestics" in the search box). Louisiana Economic Development. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
2. ^ "The Domestics (2018) - Box Office Mojo". www.boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
3. ^ Mike Fleming Jr. (March 24, 2016). "Mike P. Nelson To Write & Direct Post-Apocalyptic 'The Domestics' For MGM/Hollywood Gang". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
4. ^ Busch, Anita (September 8, 2016). "Kate Bosworth & Tyler Hoechlin Negotiating To Star In MGM's 'The Domestics'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
5. ^ Longwell, Todd (March 1, 2019). "Hollywood's Stunt Industry Grapples With Issues of Race, Skin Color and Blackface". Variety. "stunt coordinator shall endeavor to cast qualified persons of the same sex and/or race involved."
6. ^ Robb, David (6 February 2018). "Stuntwoman's Federal Push To End "Wigging" Shakes Up Male-Dominated Industry". Deadline.
7. ^ Busch, Anita (May 21, 2018). "Kate Bosworth Film 'The Domestics' As First Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
8. ^ "The Domestics". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
9. ^ Collin, Robbie (9 August 2018). "The Domestics, review: Suburbia gets grisly in post-apocalyptic America". The Telegraph.

## External links[edit]

* The Domestics at IMDb