Somewhere in Splice's DNA is the genetic make-up of a "don't mess with science" horror masterpiece on the level of David Cronenberg's The Fly. Unfortunately, it just never quite comes together.
For a sci-fi/horror movie released without a lot of fanfare in the middle of blockbuster season, it's gotten some solid reviews.
Splice does have a lot going for it. It's got two fine actors (Sarah Polley and Adrian Brody, in an age when a lot of horror movies seem content to go with generic CW heart-throbs) in the lead roles of Clive and Elsa, romantic/scientific partners who create a bizarre new life form using human and animal DNA.
It has well-developed characters and raises interesting questions about parenting, ethics and science. And although the creature at its center -- Dren, played by French actress Delphine Chaneac -- is one of the most fascinating movie monsters of all time, the movie slowly turns its two leads into even greater monsters.
For the first hour or so, Clive and Elsa push all sorts of scientific and ethical boundaries, and it's deeply fascinating to watch. As the third act begins, they -- separately -- cross a moral boundary with their experiment, and the movie doesn't seem to know how to deal with it.
In its homestretch, Splice turns into a "run from the monster" movie, and while what happens is horrific, it feels somewhat out of place with the rest of the film. It all leads to a conclusion that seems to scream "sequel," and if that's the case, let's hope director Vincezo Natali will, like all good movie scientists, learn from his mistakes.
Tom Coombe
I saw this film last night. I think it is average movie. I will give it 5 stars out of 10. It is great horror plus thriller film.
Posted by: Watch Splice Movie | June 16, 2010 at 10:13 AM