Synopsis
The Decline (Jusqu’au déclin) a Canadian thriller released in 2020, directed by Patrice Laliberté. This film stands out as Netflix’s first original feature from Quebec, and it uniquely approaches the survivalist genre by intertwining survival training with psychological dismantling. Located in the remote and frosty regions of Quebec, the film is an exploration of the taut narrative about readiness and undertones of paranoia, ideology, and moral limits directed towards extreme pressure.
Everything starts with Antoine, a middle-aged family man, who is consumed by the thought of global doom. Whether it’s an epidemic, government collapse, or ecological disaster, Antoine makes sure to be ready. He obsessively watches survivalist videos, especially Alain, a charismatic prepper who provides tips on self-sufficiency, food storage, weaponry, and even wilderness survival.
With the intention to exploit its remote nature and beauty, Alain offers a week-long survivialist training camp at his compound in Northern Quebec. In no time, he is able to attract a small group willing to share this experience. Some notable mentions from the participants include ana and Sebstien, a couple with a newborn baby, Rachel, daughter of a decorated army officer, David, the soft-spoken, deft hunter, Francois, the subdued character who seemed a tad out of place among the boisterous group.
The camp goes smoothly for the first few days. A wide range of grounds are covered including various facets of survival skills, hunting and trapping, and even the making of certain explosives for self-preservation. Alain’s leadership and teaching skills are unmatched. He is hands-on with the camp, sharing his resources and parts of his land. This all takes a turn for the worst as disaster strikes the camp when, during an over-enthusiastic reenactment of an explosive demonstration, a fatal miscalculation costs Francois a great deal. It is at this point where the real struggle of the film begins. Forget about nature, the dire search for moral sanctuary takes center stage.
Some of the participants including Antoine think that the authorities should be notified about the accident. Alain, however, does not agree. In his mind, reporting the accident would bring unwelcome attention from the state, which he does not trust, to his compound, stockpile of weapons, and his way of life. A schism develops. This group of survivalist, which was once so ideologically unified, now begins to fracture over entrenched ideological lines, and what began as a training retreat transforms into an all out fatal hunt in the snow-choked wilderness.
Alain’s unyielding resolve increases with the severe headway he makes towards the end. The metamorphosis from mentor to antagonist jobs his former role. In the name of the group’s safety and secrecy, he rationalizes murder. It is now up to the remaining participants to decide whether to side with Alain or oppose him. For Antoine, who was already in moral turmoil, this gives him the opportunity he needs to deal with spiralling consequences of his control and preparedness obsession.
It is set in contrast to a frozen, isolated landscape – the climax is ruthless, swift, deeply profound. In the final scenes, the unfriendly landscape acts as the background while the survivors begin a furious bout set off by different takes on the concepts of freedom, morality, and self-preservation. The wilderness becomes not merely a battleground for survival, but a forging ground for survival ideologies.
Cast and Crew
The role of Antoine, the character that emotionally shifts from an enthusiastic prepper to a hesitant rebel, is performed by Guillaume Laurin. Laurence’s performance perfectly highlights an internal struggle of doing the right thing in an insidiously functioning society.
Réal Bossé plays Alain, the strikingly charismatic and dangerously fanatical extreme survivalist. His performance is stunning, exhibiting suffocating ease of mentorship and menace.
Marie-Evelyne Lessard’s character, a tough and resourceful participant Rachel, is one of the moral voices to emerge from the swiftly escalating chaos. Her unique experience as a soldier and practical mindset are invaluable assets to her and the moral group dynamic.
Along with other minor requisites, Marc-André Grondin, Guillaume Cyr and Marilyn Castonguay complete the cast adding to the strikingly intense and believable interactions that construct the story.
The direction behind the camera is by Patrice Laliberté and he applies control and restraint. His approach favors a more realistic vision rather than sensationalism. The suspense is character-driven. The dialogue of the movie’s screenplay was Laliberte’s, along with the contributions from Charles Dionne and Nicolas Krief. It was focused heavily on dialogue, relationships, and the psychology associated with survivalism. The emotionally desolate and harsh snowy landscapes that were shot by Van Gonneville underline the sense of isolation and nature’s relentless brutality. This further mirrors the frost, both emotionally and ideologically, that exists between the characters. The pacing that Arthur Tarnowski applies in the editing is tight. The first two thirds or so moves in a slow build, while the last third explodes into chaotic fast movement.
The Decline has, modest yet respectable, an IMDb rating sitting around 6.3/10. This showcases a range of positive reception. Viewers appreciated the moral complexity and realism of the film alongside its self reliance focus shining in a world constantly looking toward crisis preparedness. However, some criticism was directed towards the under 90 minute runtime and the shift in tone during the movie from documentary-like training to violent conflict feeling rushed, making some feel this part of the movie was underdeveloped.
Numerous reviewers complimented the incredibly realistic representation of survivalist tactics in the film, highlighting the lack of amusement park style theatrics typical of Hollywood. There is an additional layer of suspense and engagement because the characters are not trained killers; they are simply regular people. Instead of following the formula of an action movie, The Decline is best described as a psychological thriller with elements of survivalist character study: an encapulation of the interplay of ideology and empathy.
Conclusion
The Decline is a chilling, yet a beautifully crafted thriller that takes minimalistic staging and a compact storyline to breathtaking levels. It distinguishes itself from the rest of humanity-does-the-nature-wild-trying-to-kill-you films by not focusing on nature, but rather on what extreme situations—such as a dangerous belief system—can do to a person. Containing tight, undiluted performances, sharp cinematography, and a bewildering narrative, the film becomes a frightening portrayal of how trusting something naive can idealistically shift to becoming fanatical in the face of fear.
The documentary resonates especially in times of heightened political division, increased climate concerns, and growing skepticism towards state authorities. The Decline refrains from didactic exposition but places the viewer within their comfort zone: How far are we willing to go to protect ourselves? Where does preparation metamorphose into paranoia? And when crisis strikes, do our principles endure, or do they, together with everything else, perish?
Ultimately, The Decline is not solely about surviving the wilderness; it is, more importantly, about surviving ourselves.
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