Splice

RATING 7/10

BOTTOM LINE: The high-brow concept, ethics, and execution of the monster make this horror film rise above the usual offerings from the genre, but some silly character motivations and some unbelievable sequences and their impact on the story rob this film of any greatness.

THE GOOD: One issue that ‘Splice’ raises quite convincingly is the dangers of genetic experimentation. Although some of the plot points may be far-fetched, the core concept of genetic scientists mixing DNA from different species to create new ones is not, and is quite frightening. Clive (Brody) and Elsa (Polley) are two brilliant scientists who successfully mix various DNA from a variety of species to create two worm-like creatures in an attempt to derive genetic proteins from them to further develop medical technology. However, Elsa tries to convince the pharmaceutical company funding their research to mix human DNA in to their experiments, but without success. Out of curiosity, she convinces a reluctant Clive to do an unofficial experiment to see if it can be done. They give birth to ‘Dren’, a weird hybrid, quasi-human. Clive wants to terminate Dren immediately, but Elsa is much more forceful in keeping the experiment going. It is in this first half of the film as the experiment develops and the full implications of what Elsa and Clive are doing really drive home a strong dramatic and ethical point that just because they can do this, does not mean they should play God. This point becomes all the more prevalent when their original experiment with the two worm-creatures turns in to a public disaster after they mutate. Dren starts exhibiting the same mutations later in the film, leading to disastrous consequences. The question of moral responsibility is also at play, as both Clive and Elsa wrestle with their obligations to ‘Dren’, who becomes a fully-fledged being with emotions and soul. The ethical undertone of the film makes it compelling viewing and sets this apart from other horror films, even though it relies on horror conventions at certain points for dramatic effect. The standout feature of the film on a technical level is of course the creation of ‘Dren’, using a mixture of computer graphics, fantastic make-up and prosthetics, as well as Delphine Chaneac’s elegant, vulnerable and not quite human performance as the adult Dren and Abigail Chu as the child Dren. ‘Splice’ is a horror film with smart ideas, which makes it compelling to watch and the horror on display far more frightening.

THE BAD: A number of unfortunate aspects to this film ultimately rob of it of any greatness. The handling of both Clive and Elsa’s characters in the script is a point of contention. They may be driven by scientific discovery and wonder, but somehow their motivations to continue the experiment, particularly Elsa, are never fleshed out as believable, particularly when the danger becomes more prevalent. Clive’s sex scene with Dren is incredibly disturbing, and also unbelievable given Clive is against this experiment and never really identifies with Dren until a certain point in the film when the narrative has him arbitrarily change his tack. Given his objections to Dren throughout, it seems inconceivable that he would want to have sex with her, no matter the lame excuse given of how Elsa’s DNA is in Dren and Clive recognises this. One big sequence that does not help at all is when the two worm-like creatures attack each other when they are on display at a presentation the pharmaceutical company puts on. It is violent, bloody and disgusting. How the head of the company could conceivably allow Clive and Elsa to continue after such an obvious public disaster is completely unbelievable; any normal CEO would terminate the whole operation, if only to save face. All these points rob ‘Splice’ of its greatness. It is unfortunate because at its best, the film is mentally engaging as well as terrifying, but then stumbles whenever these aspects come to the fore.

Todd Murphy <br />
http://www.allaboutmovies.net

RATING 7/10

BOTTOM LINE: The high-brow concept, ethics, and execution of the monster make this horror film rise above the usual offerings from the genre, but some silly character motivations and some unbelievable sequences and their impact on the story rob this film of any greatness.

THE GOOD: One issue that ‘Splice’ raises quite convincingly is the dangers of genetic experimentation. Although some of the plot points may be far-fetched, the core concept of genetic scientists mixing DNA from different species to create new ones is not, and is quite frightening. Clive (Brody) and Elsa (Polley) are two brilliant scientists who successfully mix various DNA from a variety of species to create two worm-like creatures in an attempt to derive genetic proteins from them to further develop medical technology. However, Elsa tries to convince the pharmaceutical company funding their research to mix human DNA in to their experiments, but without success. Out of curiosity, she convinces a reluctant Clive to do an unofficial experiment to see if it can be done. They give birth to ‘Dren’, a weird hybrid, quasi-human. Clive wants to terminate Dren immediately, but Elsa is much more forceful in keeping the experiment going. It is in this first half of the film as the experiment develops and the full implications of what Elsa and Clive are doing really drive home a strong dramatic and ethical point that just because they can do this, does not mean they should play God. This point becomes all the more prevalent when their original experiment with the two worm-creatures turns in to a public disaster after they mutate. Dren starts exhibiting the same mutations later in the film, leading to disastrous consequences. The question of moral responsibility is also at play, as both Clive and Elsa wrestle with their obligations to ‘Dren’, who becomes a fully-fledged being with emotions and soul. The ethical undertone of the film makes it compelling viewing and sets this apart from other horror films, even though it relies on horror conventions at certain points for dramatic effect. The standout feature of the film on a technical level is of course the creation of ‘Dren’, using a mixture of computer graphics, fantastic make-up and prosthetics, as well as Delphine Chaneac’s elegant, vulnerable and not quite human performance as the adult Dren and Abigail Chu as the child Dren. ‘Splice’ is a horror film with smart ideas, which makes it compelling to watch and the horror on display far more frightening.

THE BAD: A number of unfortunate aspects to this film ultimately rob of it of any greatness. The handling of both Clive and Elsa’s characters in the script is a point of contention. They may be driven by scientific discovery and wonder, but somehow their motivations to continue the experiment, particularly Elsa, are never fleshed out as believable, particularly when the danger becomes more prevalent. Clive’s sex scene with Dren is incredibly disturbing, and also unbelievable given Clive is against this experiment and never really identifies with Dren until a certain point in the film when the narrative has him arbitrarily change his tack. Given his objections to Dren throughout, it seems inconceivable that he would want to have sex with her, no matter the lame excuse given of how Elsa’s DNA is in Dren and Clive recognises this. One big sequence that does not help at all is when the two worm-like creatures attack each other when they are on display at a presentation the pharmaceutical company puts on. It is violent, bloody and disgusting. How the head of the company could conceivably allow Clive and Elsa to continue after such an obvious public disaster is completely unbelievable; any normal CEO would terminate the whole operation, if only to save face. All these points rob ‘Splice’ of its greatness. It is unfortunate because at its best, the film is mentally engaging as well as terrifying, but then stumbles whenever these aspects come to the fore.

Todd Murphy <br />
http://www.allaboutmovies.net

What is it about Canadians and body horror? David Cronenberg may still  be the true master of the genre, but there are plenty of other  contenders north of the border - including Splice director Vincenzo Natali.

Splice isn't your average horror movie, however, as it (rather  aptly) splices together elements of body horror and science fiction. The  end result is also bolstered by some strong performances and a very  human storyline, turning what might have been a schlocking B-movie into a  surprisingly intelligent investigation into the ethics of genetic  experimentation. That is also offers some disturbing insights into the  nature of parenthood comes as an unexpected bonus.

Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley play Clive Nicoli and Elsa Kast, a pioneering  scientist couple who work at the forefront of DNA-splicing technology.  When they want to take their animal-splicing experiments one step  further and introduce human DNA into the mix the project is axed, but  Clive and Elsa conduct their own experiment behind closed doors - and  some rather flimsy-looking masks.

The result is a curious creature that looks a little like a plucked  chicken, and despite their best efforts Clive and Elsa can't quite bring  themselves to euthanize it. As it grows - at an accelerated rate, for  the sake of the movie's timeline - the creature begins to demonstrate  some strange new abilities, and it becomes clear that they have  accidentally created an entirely new lifeform.

When it reaches childhood, though, the creature grows more  human-looking, and it's here that the real complications begin. Elsa  names her Dren (it's Nerd backwards), and the three of them form an  unhealthy family unit that brings dysfunctional to a whole new level.  This clearly isn't destined to end happily for anyone, and if you've  been paying attention then you'll have some idea where it's heading -  but Splice still delivers its twists with imagination and flair.

If you wanted to level criticisms at Natali's project, there are some  substantial holes to pick. For all their scientific smarts Clive and  Elsa are remarkably naive when it comes to their side project, and you  may struggle to buy into their stupidity. The major twist is flagged a  little too heavily early in the narrative too, detracting from its shock  value when it finally comes.

These are all minor gripes, though, and Splice is a smart,  original thriller that doesn't rely on gore or serial killers for its  kicks. Anyone who grew up (as I did) on a healthy diet of Cronenberg  body horror will eat up the effects with glee, and the Electra/Oedipus  overtones add an extra layer of horror to the mix.

Brody and Polley are both on superb form as the strung-out scientists,  while Delphine Chaneac somehow manages to be both horrific and alluring  as the homegrown alien Dren. The plot may have a few holes, but the cast  help give it an impressive sheen of reality.

The greatest mystery, however, is the fact that the aging Dren gradually comes to look more and more like a shaved Russell Brand. Maybe there are already human-animal hybrids among us.

4/5

Directed By: Vincenzo Natali

Starring: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac

What It’s All About:

Clive and Elsa are lovers. They work for a company splicing together  DNA of different animals to create hybrids. After the success of an  experiement they decide to splice human DNA with that of their new  creations against the will of their employers; creating a human like  creature that matures at an alarming rate. After moving their creation  to a farmhouse in order to keep her existance a secret things become out  of hand a Clive and Elsa learn more about the creature and themselves.

The Final Verdict:

Just like the subject matter of the film in question “Splice” is a  hybrid that fails to cement a strong basis for what it is trying to  achieve. Part moral dilemma, part horror flick the film never quite  reaches its true potential, falling short of the great horror film it  could have been. The tension rises but never really boils over until the  final moments of the film which are great yet it leaves you wondering  why the film didn’t pan out like this from the beginning. Entertaining  enough, but only worth a rental on a rainy weekend.

2/5

Last updated: 2010-08-22 18:52:08 by hellerphant

Splice is a modern day Frankenstein tale of genetic engineering gone  wrong. It focuses on scientist couple Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa  (Sarah Polley). who do genetic engineering for a research company.  They've made two slug like creatures that mate and produce different  proteins to be used for medicines. Secretly they also made another  creature using human DNA. (Secret because that's illegal) What follows  is the ethical/moral struggle of what to do with this creature and how  to keep it secret as it grows and matures, both physically and mentally.

Most of the film is spent with the two main scientists and their  creation. Both scientists have an interesting dichotomy, as both of them  become likable and unlikeable during different parts of the narrative.

Elsa is more ambitious about creating the creature at the outset, and  at times is very motherly toward it, while other times she reverts back  to the cold science of the situation. Her and Clive are a couple, but  she doesn't want kids of her own, not wanting to plan her life for a  "third party" as she puts it. It's also revealed she had a  crazy/possibly abusive mom, which adds some depth to Elsa's relationship  with the creature. There are moments where Elsa starts to become more  like her mother. It's also interesting to see how the pair bicker over  taking care of their experiment, the way parents bicker over how to  raise their kids.

Clive is at first more hesitant to do this illegal experiment, but  Elsa is clearly the dominant force in their relationship. He fails to  bring himself to stop the experiment or destroy it early on when he has  the chance. However he alternates to being compassionate towards it in  the moments when Elsa becomes more cold.
Clive and the workforce at the lab have the nerd persona down. (Their  organization actually has the acronym N.E.R.D.) This is reflected in  their dress and other things, like the large Japanese Pop Art poster  Clive and Elsa have in their apartment.

The creature, named Dren, (nerd backwards) grows very rapidly,  becoming a good character in of itself. It also has a lot of cool  transformations that look good. Like the Frankenstein monster, it's  curious about the world around it, and naturally desires it's freedom  and is frustrated about it's lack thereof. There's a quick  Frankenstein-esque scene where Dren opens a door to the light outside,  and Elsa quickly slams it shut. There's a similar scene in Universals  Frankenstein where the monster reaches up to the light and Dr.  Frankenstein takes the light away. (Also Dr. Frankenstein in that movie  was played by a man named Clive)

Splice is a little scary but it could have been more scary. There's a  subplot involving the slugs that ends in a scene that's supposed to be  disturbing. Instead it's laugh out loud funny, and also gives some  foreshadowing that you may or may not like.
The big reveal at the end  isn't nearly as scary as it could have been. Also the first time you  really see the creature should have been a real jump out of your seat  moment but it wasn't.

Still it was a good tale of our modern concerns over genetic  engineering. It gives a warning of the dark side of ambition without  hitting you over the head with it's message. 9/10

http://jemurr.wordpress.com/<br />
<br />
http://www.youtube.com/user/murmanpoet

Last updated: 2010-07-05 05:32:47 by jemurr

The movie Splice doesn't have any kind of long set-up or  backstory that leads to its plot.  It starts out right in the lab where lovers  Clive and Elsa are doing experiments with DNA.  They have already created both a  male and female version of a creature that has never existed before.  The  couple, played by Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, are experts of splicing.  They splice animal  genes together from several different species.  But Clive and Elsa aren't  satisfied with their already amazing creations.  They want to add human DNA to  their experiments.
After quite a few tries, they're finally successful.  The corporation that  they work for didn't approve of any human DNA experiments so they must keep  their newest creation a secret.  They name it Dren.  Clive wants to destroy it  immediately as he realizes there is a moral dilemma in what they've done.  Elsa  convinces him to let it live a little longer.  He was satisfied knowing they are  capable of creating such a thing, but her point of view is that they might as  well observe how it behaves since they made such an effort to bring it to life  in the first place.  Plus, they realize that it's growing at a rapid rate and  should go through its lifespan quickly anyway.
Dren is a female which looks like a human but with various elements of other  animals.  She has eight fingers, a stinger, and legs with extra joints.  She  starts out as their pet, kind of hopping around like a quick bunny.  Soon though  it becomes evident that Elsa sees her as a daughter.  Clive seems a little more  uncertain of what to make of Dren sometimes.  She seems to act like a loyal  daughter to the two people who made her, but she does have the lethal  characteristics of some predators.  This includes super speed & agility,  extra strength, and of course, that stinger.
Suspense builds as Dren gets bigger and more capable of taking control.  The  special effects are great and the laboratory setting is perfect for a medical  nightmare type of film.  There are some unexpected surprises towards the end of  the film that will definitely creep some people out.  But isn't that the goal of  a horror movie?  There are plenty of effective visuals that are both gross and  fascinating.  If you like movies that don't hold back and keep your eyes fixated  on the screen, then this is perfect for you.

http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-philadelphia/danny-porcaro

It’s been quite awhile since director Vincenzo Natali had his first minor cinematic success with The Cube all the way back in 1997. Returning to his claim to fame genre of horror Vincenzo is back with a rather monotonous spin on the Frankenstein themed world of modern gene pool splicing. His film Splice, which got picked up from the Sundance film festival earlier this year and is now a main summer release, doesn’t contemplate anything new with the complex subject matter of creating life nor does it explore anything inventive with the psychological or horror genres. Instead we are given the typical set up between master and creator while being brow beaten with the blatant referencing to a message that even a child could understand. This is a film that lacks subtlety and more importantly a tightly developed atmosphere of suspense, which films of the same genre have done much better before such as Ridley Scott’s Alien or Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. Most of the time the exaggerated acting and scenarios are a tad laughable while the message of thou shalt not play god in the lab becomes superficial as they talk more about right and wrong rather than show us visually what they’d like for us to take away from this average dramatic horror concoction. Ultimately Splice isn’t a thought provoking morality tale nor is it a suspenseful horror ride, making it a pretty tedious film to sit through till the end no matter what expectations you have.
            Horror hasn’t been at the forefront of originality for quite a while now and it’s not surprising that Splice’s narrative, with a focus on animal testing and gene pool splicing, would just be a higher budget Roger Corman film sort of like Frankenstein meets The Wasp Woman. Basically the story centers around two rebellious scientists Clive Nicoli and Elsa Kast, both played well enough by Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley respectively, who have been experimenting with splicing animal DNA to create animal mutations in order to find medical benefits. They are ready to jump to the next step which would introduce human DNA into their experiments but are strictly told to isolate a particular protein from their current successful splices. Elsa ignores her financiers request and pulls Clive into a dangerous and highly unethical experiment introducing human DNA into animal creation. The result is a small animal that begins to evolve outside of the womb as a human animal hybrid that eventually sees Clive and Elsa as its parents. Known to us as Dren, the human animal hybrid grows rapidly and becomes increasingly intelligent. Dren becomes violent and rebellious making it extremely dangerous to keep her around as she experiences the combination of animal instinct and the human drive for free will. As with all horror films if you’re paying close attention you know when the twist and turns will take place considering that the music and camera work are dead giveaways. Once the film does take the attempt into scaring you the film has been dragging for far too long and the anxiety that usually builds when you’re involved with certain characters fails to do so in Splice. Everything that you might expect would happen with a human animal hybrid does and so it makes the lacking suspense adulterate the experience in the end.
            Perhaps over the years horror has gotten too predictable but there is nothing surprising or vastly twisting in Vincenzo’s Splice at least for those who don’t let films be projected to them as if they were Alex in A Clockwork Orange. Luckily the cinematography is crystal clear enough to allow the film to have a deliberately beautiful quality to its many images. There is an appropriate use of shadows, angles, distorted point of view, and fast moving camera work to make the narrative experience tolerable. Horror has always been a great example of how the technical fields of cinema really do matter, especially how the use of sound and music can create tension and the appropriate mood for the spectacles that will unfold. What undermines the technical artistry is the familiar story that only skims the surface of the ethics of lab human experimentation while also constantly reminding you that there is an ethical question involved in the film. Directors and writers need to learn to respect their audience’s intelligence and not expect them to be at a 5^th grade learning level. Even my cynicism of the public at large won’t allow me to lower my expectations of how cinema should be presented, which allows for some minor ambiguity in relation to message. This allows varying interpretations dependent on multiple points of view.
            Another positive observation of Vincenzo’s Splice is the acting from the select few that actually embody the cast in the film. Academy Award winner Adrien Brody plays a scientist who wants to remain grounded but is constantly tempted by the possibilities and risks that his partner’s ambitions eventually lead to. He is believable in being reluctant and ethically challenged despite the scripts dialogue continuously reminding us that there is an ethical challenge at hand. Sarah Polley, Brody’s on screen counterpart, holds her own as we uncover the psychological reasoning to her obsession with creating another creature that she can take care of. But really it’s the non-vocalized performance of Delphine Chaneac that ignites the screen with beauty, pain, curiosity, and a violent sexuality. She is graceful in her performance that utilizes her eyes and posture instead of words, and she should be applauded for accomplishing the difficult task she was given. There really are no other actors besides the talking mouth pieces that inevitably have tragic fates (don’t moan and groan of spoilers…this is a “horror” movie), giving these three actors the majority of the screen time making it as convincing as possible. And to Splice’s benefit the atmosphere and scenarios are convincing, but it just lacks depth, visual underlining, and a valid direction.
            For those venturing to the theaters to see a horror film the result Splice might leave you with could go either way. There are those who appreciate the art form of the horror genre, evidence by Kubrick’s The Shining or Friedkin’s The Excorcist, and there is the rest who only go for the shock and awe of modern horror. Unfortunately for the latter group Splice doesn’t offer much blood or gore, nor does it venture into the jump out at you suspense world until 15 minutes towards the end. What Splice attempted to do was revisit an old but always relevant theme pertaining to moral implications of creating mutations, creatures, or hybrids that inevitably has drastic consequences. Vincenzo Natali doesn’t have the ability to go deep into the message’s complexities nor does he have the grace as a horror master to make the last 20 or so minutes suspenseful. All across the board Splice fails to engage the mind and nerve leaving you with a shallow updated version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. But if you’re looking for the director of The Cube’s vision of combining Species with Alien then by all means take the risk and see Splice. The rest of you might be better off renting Jurassic Park.