Synopsis: An experiment goes horribly wrong in Splice when two scientists use human DNA to create a hybrid creature.
Release Date: June 4, 2010 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Horror, Science Fiction
Film Review
Production
Hello world, it is time to meet Dren. A human animal hybrid in Splice who is a lab created creature that should never have been born. Yet as a viewer of Splice you may be more than happy she (it) has been. Splice delves into the scientific world of cloning and all of the implications it develops. This is not a horror film and if you are looking for such it is not going to satisfy you in any form. The film takes a more science fiction turn by showing the evolution of a species unknown to man. The horror remains in the idea of the unknown and what it means for civilization, the future of science, and the human condition. Dren may be a monstrous being but reconciling whether this monster is indeed good or evil is where the fun of Splice occurs. You never know where Splice is going to take you or how far it is going to go as it grapples with the underlying issues of creating something unnatural. If not for the faltering in the end with originality and use of overtly sexualizing the creature the movie would be greater overall. Even still, Splice is a great film to get your brain working and to test the boundaries of what is natural and what is monstrous.
Writing
The screenwriters behind Splice have proven that science does not need to be boring. Nor is it reserved for the old, stodgy men in white lab coats and glasses. Drawing from the Frankenstein myth and theory the script develops with ease a tale filled with modern science and the implications of playing God by creating a new species of life. The scientists are young, virile, and exhilarated by the idea of pushing the boundaries of science. Their creation is a hybrid species of human and animal DNA that we cannot expect to understand or imagine as to what mental capacities it will contain or how it will evolve with time and stimulation. Dren, the aforementioned creation, is full of human emotions and animal instincts. She is unpredictable and the horror of the story lies in her unpredictability. Splice not only entertains on the dramatic and thriller levels but it also provokes thought. It raises moral questions, deep philosophical dilemmas, and delves into the psychological. It examines heredity, evolution, and the undeniable need for human connection. The writers have not only created a new spin on the science fiction thriller but they have also developed a story that makes the viewer think and feel.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Vincenzo Natali
- Cast: Adrien Brody (Clive Nicoli), Sarah Polley (Elsa Kast), Delphine Chaneac (Dren)
- Country Of Origin: Canada, France