Divide & Conquer landed on my doorstep like a Molotov cocktail wrapped in pink leopard print, and I’ve spent the past week trying to process what Mercedes the Muse has unleashed upon the world. This 2021 Troma release arrived on Blu-ray from MVD Entertainment in February 2023 with the kind of special features package that demonstrates why physical media matters for independent cinema. Lloyd Kaufman himself calls Divide & Conquer “a feminist movie for the 21st century,” which sounds like typical Troma hyperbole until you actually watch the damn thing and realize he might be underselling it.

When Feminist Rage Meets Troma Excess

I’ve been covering exploitation cinema for AndersonVision long enough to recognize when a filmmaker truly understands the genre versus someone just throwing gross-out gags at the wall. Mercedes the Muse gets it. Divide & Conquer represents the convergence of genuine feminist rage, Troma’s gleefully transgressive spirit, and enough bodily fluids to fill a municipal swimming pool. This isn’t exploitation for exploitation’s sake. Divide & Conquer uses every offensive weapon in the Troma arsenal to make pointed commentary about misogyny, toxic masculinity, and the violence women navigate daily.

The opening of Divide & Conquer immediately establishes that Mercedes the Muse and cinematographer Moses understand cult cinema visual language. Divide & Conquer begins with a homemade recreation of the iconic Troma Entertainment skyline logo before zooming into a sun-baked highway that could have been lifted from Mad Max. The narrator’s voice drips with the kind of salacious energy that defined classic grindhouse exploitation, setting perfect tone for the mayhem to follow.

The Gynos Take Tromaville

Divide & Conquer centers on three warrior women who call themselves the Gynos: Toxie (Mercedes the Muse), Lilith (Irie Divine), and Athena (Knotty Peach). These characters exist in Tromaville’s post-apocalyptic landscape, though calling Tromaville “post-apocalyptic” feels redundant since Troma’s universe has always existed in various states of collapse. Divide & Conquer follows the Gynos as they traverse this wasteland, dispensing ultraviolence to every misogynist who crosses their path.

The plotting of Divide & Conquer operates more like a picaresque journey than traditional three-act structure. The Gynos encounter various antagonists representing different facets of patriarchal oppression throughout their odyssey across Tromaville. Divide & Conquer includes confrontations with racist bar patrons, rapists, corrupt police officers, Nazi sympathizers, and the mysterious Knights of White. Each encounter allows Mercedes the Muse to explore different manifestations of toxic masculinity while showcasing increasingly creative violence.

Mercedes the Muse plays Toxie with the kind of committed intensity that elevates Divide & Conquer above typical no-budget exploitation. Her Toxie carries genuine rage underneath the camp performance, creating a character who feels dangerous rather than merely cartoonish. Divide & Conquer benefits enormously from Mercedes the Muse’s understanding that grindhouse performances work best when actors commit completely to the material’s extremity.

Irie Divine brings different energy to Lilith, playing the character with a detached coolness that contrasts effectively with Toxie’s raw fury. Divide & Conquer uses Lilith as the tactical mind of the group, the one who thinks through problems while her companions charge forward. Divine’s performance demonstrates surprising range for a no-budget exploitation film, finding genuine character moments between the outrageous violence.

Knotty Peach rounds out the trio as Athena, providing the group’s emotional center. Divide & Conquer reveals that Athena has personal history in Tromaville that connects to the larger conspiracy threatening to overtake the world. Peach handles the character’s more vulnerable moments effectively while remaining convincing during action sequences.

Troma Royalty Joins the Party

The supporting cast of Divide & Conquer includes several Troma legends who understand exactly what kind of movie they’re making. Mark Torgl, the original Melvin from The Toxic Avenger, appears as a lecherous motel clerk who spends his screen time slurping corn dogs with disturbing enthusiasm. Divide & Conquer uses Torgl’s presence to acknowledge Troma’s legacy while allowing him to play against type as antagonist rather than victim.

Lloyd Kaufman himself shows up in puppet form as the King of Trash, delivering one of Divide & Conquer’s most overtly philosophical speeches about art versus commerce. The scene functions as both meta-commentary on independent filmmaking and genuine examination of how capitalism corrupts creative expression. Divide & Conquer includes this kind of unexpectedly thoughtful material throughout its runtime, refusing to be dismissed as mere shock cinema.

Underground icon Kembra Pfahler (War is Menstrual Envy, The Misandrists) appears as a news broadcaster whose Freudian slips reveal the corruption underlying Tromaville’s media infrastructure. Divide & Conquer uses Pfahler’s performance to satirize how mainstream media normalizes misogyny through supposedly neutral reporting. Pfahler’s background in transgressive performance art makes her perfect fit for Mercedes the Muse’s aesthetic.

Jade Theriault plays Ronnie, owner of the Gender Bender club where the Gynos find temporary sanctuary. Divide & Conquer presents the Gender Bender as oasis of acceptance within Tromaville’s hostile landscape, demonstrating how marginalized communities create safe spaces within oppressive systems. Theriault’s performance grounds this sequence with genuine warmth that provides emotional respite before Divide & Conquer plunges back into violence.

Vada Callisto appears as a gangster from Athena’s past, bringing legitimate screen presence that elevates her scenes. Divide & Conquer uses Callisto’s character to explore how women navigate power structures that weren’t designed for them, showing someone who’s gained influence through the same violent means the Gynos employ.

When Violence Becomes Commentary

The action sequences in Divide & Conquer deserve serious discussion despite the film’s no-budget origins. Mercedes the Muse and Moses stage fight choreography that emphasizes brutality over elegance, creating confrontations that feel genuinely dangerous rather than choreographed. Divide & Conquer understands that effective screen violence requires weight and consequence, even in a world as cartoonish as Tromaville.

The controversial element that defines Divide & Conquer involves how the Gynos literally weaponize their bodies against male attackers. The film includes sequences where female characters use bodily functions to incapacitate opponents, transforming aspects of femininity that patriarchal culture treats as shameful into actual weapons. Divide & Conquer commits to this concept completely, refusing to soften or apologize for material that will absolutely alienate mainstream audiences.

Critics uncomfortable with Divide & Conquer’s approach miss how Mercedes the Muse subverts exploitation conventions through feminist lens. Traditional exploitation cinema objectifies women’s bodies for male consumption. Divide & Conquer reverses this dynamic by making the male gaze itself a target, using female bodies as instruments of violence against patriarchal oppression. The transgressive material serves thematic purpose rather than existing purely for shock value.

The fight sequence involving a werewolf demonstrates Divide & Conquer’s commitment to practical effects despite budget limitations. Moses and Mercedes the Muse create this encounter using makeup effects, creative camera angles, and performers willing to commit to absolutely insane material. Divide & Conquer proves that imagination and dedication can overcome financial limitations when filmmakers understand their craft.

The Nazi Threat in Tromaville

One of Divide & Conquer’s most audacious sequences involves the Gynos confronting a geriatric Adolf Hitler and his werewolf companion. This scene represents exactly the kind of completely unhinged storytelling that makes Troma films simultaneously infuriating and brilliant. Divide & Conquer refuses to explain how or why Hitler survived into Tromaville’s present day, simply presenting this confrontation as natural extension of the film’s internal logic.

The Hitler sequence allows Mercedes the Muse to address fascism’s ongoing threat while maintaining Divide & Conquer’s absurdist tone. The film suggests that patriarchal oppression and fascist ideology represent fundamentally connected power structures that must be opposed through direct action. Divide & Conquer makes this argument through a scene involving a Nazi werewolf rather than through conventional political discourse, demonstrating how exploitation cinema can address serious themes through outrageous metaphor.

The Underground Front Aesthetic

Mercedes the Muse co-founded the cinema/sex cult Underground Front alongside cinematographer Moses, and Divide & Conquer showcases their collaborative aesthetic at its most refined. The film combines guerrilla filmmaking techniques with carefully composed shots that demonstrate genuine visual sophistication. Divide & Conquer looks more expensive than its budget should allow through creative use of locations and practical lighting.

Moses’s cinematography gives Divide & Conquer a sun-bleached, overexposed quality that evokes classic grindhouse exploitation while maintaining digital clarity. The camera work favors handheld movement that creates visceral immediacy during action sequences while finding stillness for character moments. Divide & Conquer benefits from Moses and Mercedes the Muse’s obvious understanding of exploitation cinema visual language.

The production design transforms recognizable California locations into Tromaville’s dystopian landscape through minimal but effective set dressing. Divide & Conquer demonstrates how independent filmmakers can create distinctive worlds without major studio budgets by choosing locations with existing character and enhancing them through strategic additions. The various dive bars, seedy motels, and abandoned industrial spaces that populate Divide & Conquer feel authentically lived-in rather than artificially constructed.

The costume design emphasizes practical post-apocalyptic aesthetic mixed with punk rock attitude. Divide & Conquer dresses the Gynos in leather, chains, and torn denim that signals their outsider status while remaining functional for extended action sequences. The villains wear suits, police uniforms, and other signifiers of institutional power, creating clear visual distinction between rebels and oppressors.

Music That Matches the Mayhem

The Divide & Conquer soundtrack features contributions from underground bands Soul Grinder, Oh! The Horror, Born Twice, and Twiztid. The music enhances the film’s punk rock energy while providing appropriate sonic backdrop for different sequences. Divide & Conquer understands that exploitation cinema requires aggressive, memorable music that becomes as much a character as the performers.

The musical choices reflect Mercedes the Muse’s commitment to supporting independent artists across multiple mediums. Divide & Conquer features musicians who share the film’s DIY ethos and transgressive spirit, creating authentic cultural dialogue between underground cinema and underground music scenes. This approach gives Divide & Conquer additional authenticity that would be impossible with generic stock music.

Blu-ray Presentation: Rough Around the Edges

The MVD Entertainment Group Blu-ray presentation of Divide & Conquer delivers what the source material allows without attempting to create artificial polish that would betray the film’s guerrilla origins. The 1080p AVC encode in 2.35:1 aspect ratio captures Divide & Conquer’s deliberately rough visual aesthetic while providing adequate detail and color reproduction for home viewing.

The transfer maintains the film’s high-contrast, sun-bleached look that was clearly intentional rather than result of poor exposure. Divide & Conquer features significant video noise in places that reflects the digital camera’s limitations and the challenging shooting conditions rather than transfer problems. Detail levels remain adequate in close-ups while wider shots show the expected softness of lower-resolution digital cinematography.

Color reproduction emphasizes the harsh yellows and oranges of California sun mixed with the lurid pinks and purples that define Troma’s aesthetic. Divide & Conquer never aims for naturalistic color grading, instead pushing saturation to create heightened reality appropriate for its subject matter. The transfer preserves these creative choices without introducing additional compression artifacts.

The biggest disappointment in this Blu-ray presentation involves the audio. Divide & Conquer features lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo rather than lossless audio, resulting in compressed dynamics and occasionally muddy dialogue reproduction. The mix sounds cluttered during action sequences when multiple sound elements compete for attention. Some dialogue becomes difficult to parse, particularly when performers speak rapidly or use heavy accents.

The stereo mix attempts to create some sense of directionality but remains fundamentally limited by its two-channel format and lossy compression. Divide & Conquer’s aggressive soundtrack occasionally overwhelms dialogue during musical sequences, requiring viewers to adjust volume levels throughout. A lossless stereo track would have significantly improved the audio experience without requiring more elaborate mixing.

Special Features That Justify the Purchase

The Divide & Conquer Blu-ray includes special features package that transforms the disc from simple movie presentation into valuable document of independent filmmaking process. These supplements demonstrate why physical media remains essential for preserving independent cinema and providing educational resources for aspiring filmmakers.

“An Introduction by Lloyd Kaufman” features Uncle Lloyd in what might be the most Lloyd Kaufman thing ever committed to video. The Troma godfather introduces Divide & Conquer by literally drowning himself, demonstrating the company’s commitment to transgressive entertainment even in supplemental materials. This introduction sets appropriate tone for viewers unsure what they’re about to experience.

The “Cast & Crew Commentary” provides invaluable insights into Divide & Conquer’s production challenges and creative decisions. Mercedes the Muse, Irie Divine, Knotty Peach, and Moses discuss how they accomplished various sequences on minimal budget while maintaining creative vision. The commentary reveals the extensive planning required to make guerrilla filmmaking appear spontaneous, demonstrating that successful independent cinema requires as much preparation as bigger productions even when improvisation becomes necessary.

The participants discuss location scouting challenges, scheduling nightmares, and the creative problem-solving required when original plans became impossible. Divide & Conquer benefited from extensive shot lists and storyboards that allowed the crew to maximize limited shooting time. The commentary emphasizes that successful no-budget filmmaking requires discipline and organization rather than just pointing a camera and hoping for the best.

“MAKING A DAMN MOVIE: The Making of DIVIDE & CONQUER” offers behind-the-scenes footage and interviews that document the film’s production from pre-production through post. This featurette demonstrates the extensive work required to create even a no-budget exploitation film, showing the lighting setups, makeup effects application, and action choreography rehearsals that made Divide & Conquer possible.

The making-of reveals how Mercedes the Muse and Moses assembled crew from San Francisco’s underground arts community, creating collaborative environment where everyone contributed skills beyond their official roles. Divide & Conquer emerged from genuine artistic community rather than traditional hierarchical film production, resulting in work that reflects collective vision rather than single author.

“The Three Muses Featurette” focuses specifically on the relationship between Mercedes the Muse, Irie Divine, and Knotty Peach. The three performers discuss how they developed their characters’ dynamics and the challenges of maintaining consistent energy throughout the demanding production schedule. Divide & Conquer required extensive physical performance from all three leads, and this featurette reveals the preparation and training they undertook.

The performers discuss the decision to embrace Divide & Conquer’s transgressive material completely rather than approaching it with ironic distance. Their commitment to playing the outrageous situations seriously creates the film’s distinctive tone, allowing comedy and drama to coexist without undermining either. The Three Muses explain how they supported each other through challenging sequences while maintaining professional working environment.

The “LA Premiere Q&A Session” captures audience reactions and filmmaker responses following Divide & Conquer’s Los Angeles theatrical debut. Mercedes the Muse fields questions about the film’s feminist politics, creative inspirations, and production challenges. The Q&A reveals how different audience members respond to Divide & Conquer’s provocative material, with some embracing the transgressive approach while others struggle with the film’s extremity.

This discussion demonstrates Mercedes the Muse’s thoughtful approach to potentially controversial material. She articulates clear thematic intentions behind Divide & Conquer’s most extreme sequences, explaining how the film’s offensive elements serve larger commentary about patriarchal violence. The Q&A shows a filmmaker confident in her vision while remaining open to diverse interpretations.

“Premiere at The Balboa Theatre” provides footage from the film’s San Francisco debut, capturing the energy of Divide & Conquer’s home city premiere. The Balboa Theatre represents a historic San Francisco venue with deep connections to independent and cult cinema, making it perfect location for Mercedes the Muse’s latest provocation. The footage shows enthusiastic audience responses and the celebratory atmosphere following the screening.

The included “Trailers” section features promotional materials that showcase how Divide & Conquer was marketed to potential audiences. The trailers emphasize the film’s transgressive reputation and Troma credentials while providing glimpses of the outrageous content. These materials demonstrate the challenge of promoting films that deliberately resist mainstream acceptance.

“American Cinematheque Honors Troma” documents the prestigious Los Angeles film organization’s recognition of Troma Entertainment’s contributions to independent cinema. This footage provides broader context for understanding Divide & Conquer within Troma’s larger legacy and the company’s influence on generations of independent filmmakers. The American Cinematheque event demonstrates how institutions initially hostile to exploitation cinema eventually recognized Troma’s cultural significance.

Connecting to Troma’s Legacy

For AndersonVision readers who appreciate cult cinema history, Divide & Conquer represents crucial evolution in Troma’s ongoing mission to champion truly independent filmmaking. Lloyd Kaufman built Troma by providing distribution for filmmakers who couldn’t access traditional channels, and Mercedes the Muse continues this tradition while bringing contemporary political consciousness to the Troma aesthetic.

The relationship between Divide & Conquer and earlier Troma productions like The Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke ‘Em High reveals both continuity and evolution. Divide & Conquer shares those films’ commitment to transgressive content and social satire while bringing explicitly feminist perspective that earlier Troma productions approached less directly. Mercedes the Muse proves that the Troma formula can evolve without losing the anarchic spirit that made the company culturally significant.

Why Independent Film Needs Physical Media

The Divide & Conquer Blu-ray demonstrates why streaming services cannot replace physical media for independent cinema preservation and education. The comprehensive special features provide context and education that streaming platforms rarely support, transforming Divide & Conquer from disposable entertainment into educational resource for aspiring filmmakers and film historians.

Mercedes the Muse created Divide & Conquer with virtually no money, proving that contemporary technology allows committed artists to produce feature films outside traditional financing structures. The behind-the-scenes materials show exactly how she accomplished this feat, providing blueprint for other filmmakers seeking to maintain creative control while working within severe budget constraints.

The disc preserves Divide & Conquer in stable format that will remain accessible regardless of streaming service licensing changes. Independent films without major studio backing frequently disappear from streaming platforms when contracts expire, making physical media crucial for long-term preservation. This Blu-ray ensures that Mercedes the Muse’s work remains available for future audiences and scholars studying early 21st century underground cinema.

The Waters Comparison That Actually Works

Multiple viewers have compared Mercedes the Muse to John Waters, and Divide & Conquer justifies this comparison more than typical cult cinema name-dropping. Like Waters, Mercedes the Muse uses transgressive material to explore outsider identity and challenge mainstream morality. Divide & Conquer shares Waters’ commitment to celebrating freaks and weirdos while refusing to sanitize their behavior for broader appeal.

The crucial difference involves how Mercedes the Muse channels her transgressive impulses through explicitly political lens. Divide & Conquer makes arguments about patriarchal violence and fascism that remain clear despite the outrageous presentation. Waters often emphasized camp and provocation over direct political statement, while Mercedes the Muse combines both approaches into unified aesthetic.

The Viewer’s Dilemma

Divide & Conquer will absolutely not appeal to everyone, and Mercedes the Muse clearly doesn’t care about winning over skeptics. The film includes material designed to offend, challenge, and provoke audiences who expect entertainment to comfort rather than confront. Divide & Conquer embraces exploitation cinema’s ability to address topics mainstream media avoids by wrapping difficult truths in outrageous packaging.

Viewers uncomfortable with graphic violence, extensive nudity, scatological humor, and constant profanity should obviously avoid Divide & Conquer. The film includes trigger warnings worth taking seriously, as Mercedes the Muse refuses to soft-pedal material that many viewers will find genuinely disturbing. Divide & Conquer earns its transgressive reputation through content rather than just attitude.

For viewers willing to engage with challenging material, Divide & Conquer offers rewards beyond simple shock value. Mercedes the Muse demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how exploitation cinema can serve political purposes while remaining entertaining. Divide & Conquer proves that feminist rage and Troma excess can coexist productively when filmmakers possess both artistic vision and genuine convictions.

The Future of Tromaville

Mercedes the Muse’s ongoing relationship with Troma Entertainment suggests positive future for the company as Lloyd Kaufman eventually steps back from active filmmaking. Divide & Conquer demonstrates that younger filmmakers understand Troma’s core values while bringing fresh perspectives that prevent the brand from becoming nostalgic exercise.

Mercedes the Muse has continued developing projects within the Troma universe, including the upcoming Poultrygeist 2: The Henpire Strikes Back, which she’s writing and directing. Her commitment to Troma’s mission ensures that truly independent exploitation cinema will continue finding audiences despite increasing corporate consolidation of entertainment industry.

The Verdict on Gynos Gone Wild

Divide & Conquer succeeds as both entertainment and political statement, proving that exploitation cinema remains vital format for addressing contemporary issues through outrageous allegory. Mercedes the Muse’s third feature demonstrates remarkable growth from her previous work while maintaining the transgressive spirit that defines her aesthetic. Divide & Conquer represents exactly the kind of uncompromising independent cinema that Troma has championed throughout its history.

The MVD Entertainment Blu-ray presentation provides adequate technical quality given the source material’s limitations while delivering comprehensive special features package that adds substantial value beyond the main feature. The behind-the-scenes materials offer genuine insights into independent filmmaking process that will benefit aspiring filmmakers seeking to create outside traditional industry structures.

For AndersonVision readers who appreciate exploitation cinema that challenges as much as it entertains, Divide & Conquer represents essential viewing. Mercedes the Muse proves that feminist politics and transgressive entertainment can coexist productively when filmmakers possess both courage and craft. Divide & Conquer earns its place in Troma’s catalog through genuine artistic vision rather than simply copying formulas established by earlier productions.

The film demonstrates that underground cinema continues evolving, bringing contemporary political consciousness to genres traditionally associated with apolitical exploitation. Divide & Conquer suggests that truly independent filmmaking remains possible for artists willing to embrace guerrilla production methods and accept that their work will never achieve mainstream acceptance.

Mercedes the Muse has created something genuinely unique with Divide & Conquer, a film that refuses compromise while maintaining entertainment value for audiences willing to meet it on its own uncompromising terms. This Blu-ray preserves important document of contemporary underground cinema while providing educational resources that extend Divide & Conquer’s value far beyond its 93-minute runtime.

For more information about Divide & Conquer and Mercedes the Muse’s filmography, check out the film’s IMDb page and Troma’s official site.

Divide & Conquer is now available on Blu-ray from Troma Entertainment via MVD Entertainment Group

Technical Specifications:

• Video: 1080p AVC / 2.35:1 aspect ratio
• Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Subtitles: None listed
• Runtime: 93 minutes
• Region: Region Free
• Studio: Troma Entertainment / MVD Entertainment Group
• Release Date: February 7, 2023