Population 436 is a 2006 mystery-horror film directed by Michelle MacLaren, featuring a cast that includes Jeremy Sisto, Fred Durst, and Charlotte Sullivan.
The film tells the story of Steve Kady, a U.S. Census Bureau enumerator who is sent to the remote village of Rockwell Falls, North Dakota, to investigate why the town's population has remained at exactly 436 for over a century.
Upon arriving, Kady encounters a series of unsettling occurrences and begins to notice the townspeople's strange behavior. He becomes romantically involved with a local woman, Courtney, while also befriending a young girl named Amanda, whose father died trying to escape the town. As Kady delves deeper into the town's secrets, he discovers that anyone who attempts to leave meets with bizarre and often fatal accidents, which the residents attribute to divine intervention.
The film explores themes of isolation, control, and the dark side of community dynamics, drawing parallels to cult-like behavior. It has a runtime of 92 minutes and was released direct-to-video. While it received mixed reviews, it has gained a following for its eerie atmosphere and intriguing premise. The film's cinematography was handled by Thomas Burstyn, and it features a score by Glenn Buhr.