B

Review by Peter Ricci – Flix|Critic

Bottom Line: Splice is intelligent, riveting and stimulating to the sifi-mind:

Splice is not your typical science fiction suspense thriller; it will surprise you as its way more than just that. Splice is intriguing, intelligent and sophisticated. Finally, Hollywood put a little creativity to work and came up with an all new dysfunctional family. Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) are a couple at the top of their game.  They are two brilliant scientists whose cutting-edge experiments in genetic engineering and splice genes have struck gold. They are the ground breakers in the world of medical cures; or so they are trying to be. They have genetically designed two promising specimens to research and diagnosis. But is that enough for the couple?

Splice explores the issues within the relationship of the couple.  They movie suggests hints of a torrid past and resentment for Elsa and her mother. Clive however, longs to start a family. It’s the typical couple at the breaking point of their relationship. Clive is sexually deprived by Elsa as she is consumed by their experiments and desires to be the ground breakers in cures.

Even though the couple is devoted to their careers they are told to go to phase two of their revalating discovery.  Elsa is not pleased; she has other intentions instead of working on phase two.  She is determined to take things to the next level and start conducting unauthorized experiments with new animal species, a perfect organism that shows great promise. Intoxicated with god-like powers, Elsa takes thing into her own hands. She introduces human DNA into one of their creations, producing a specimen that is like no other. It rapidly grows over night in freakish proportions. Splice intensifies just a little, as the human hybrid develops into something more that just a thing or a superficial ideal life form. Elsa becomes attached and names the specimen Dren, the reverse of Nerd, the place where the couple works.

Dren becomes extremely intelligent and begins to have human-esque type feelings. She is intrigued by Clive after catching the couple being intament. It’s at that point in the movie where the table is turned and the film becomes interesting. Now don’t get me wrong the suspense thriller moves just right, but if you’re expecting a scary style “Species” film, this is not it. It’s on a higher plateau.

Splice is intelligently written for the most part, there are a couple weak areas in the film. Hence the argument between Clive and Elsa (about Dren), Elsa catches her husband Clive doing the unthinkable. The movie really makes you think while pushing the envelope on the “what if” factor?

Splice director Natali’s who is best known for his American debut in 1997, when he was approached to direct Cube a horror film about people trapped in a cube and how can they get out without dying. The movie is a mind fuck of the sorts. Vincenzo Natali has come a long way from his Cube debut. Splice is on the other side of the spectrum if you put it next to Cube, but both movies have commonality and that is socialism of the classes. How Natali explores the mind-set of Cube is very close how he examines the dysfunction of American relationships in our country. The only difference is the couple in hand has a hybrid human for a daughter. Not the best choice. The female creature better known as Dren (Delphine Chanéac) inspires maternal feelings in Elsa, but she evokes something far-from-paternal in Clive, Trust me you will be shocked in the end. Dren poses a threat to them all. It those things that get swept under the rug, but never really go away, if you catch my drift.

This movie surprised me as I went to the premier on Wednesday night. I just feel that Splice may go over the heads of some audience goers. It’s definitely worth the admission to the theater, but check it at a matinée, just in case.

  • Release Date: June 4th, 2010 (wide)
  • Director: Vincenzo Natali
  • Producer: Guillermo del Toro, Don Murphy, Susan Montford
  • Stars: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chaneac, Simona Maicanescu, David Hewlett
  • Studio: Anchor Bay Films
  • Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Suspense/Horror and Thriller
  • MPAA Rating: R for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language.
  • Year: 2010

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

What the other Critics are saying:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Poster design by Ignition Print