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FeedMovie Review: Splice
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Splice - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade; McKinley Mall Dipson; Elmwood, Transit, Galleria, Hollywood Regal; Flix; Transit Drive-In
If you play with science you might get burned. Like fire, science can very dangerous and absolutely uncontrollable, especially in this sci-fi horror flick. Vincenzo Natali’s Splice may on the surface appear to be a message-driven story dealing with the moral quandaries of genetic manipulation, but the film is also a psychological study. Protagonists Clive Nicoli and Elsa Kast are playing God, unknowing of what consequences their work may entail. The experiment soon evolves into a hubristic journey of power, control, uncovering hidden aspects of each character’s past and present. It's a volatile mixture.
Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) have been partners in the lab and in life for at least seven years, equally ambitious in both their careers and personal lives. By manufacturing a brand new life form—two actually, a male and female named Fred and Ginger—they have become the first team to successfully splice multiple species into one living and breathing creature. Their work holds promise for future discoveries in the field of curing diseases, but also in the synthesis of a powerful protein lying within the biomorphic, slug-like monstrosities they are creating. Like all scientists, the two have corporate backers, who now want to bring the protein to the market for revenue. Clive and Elsa have other plans, however—the use of human DNA in their experiments. With a definitive “No” from their financiers and in the knowledge that continuing on with human splicing is not only dangerous, but also illegal, their test-tube offspring Dren (Delphine Chanéac) is born.
I was worried going into Splice because of what the trailer appeared to be showing—appeared being the important word. It began to show footage of a grown-up Dren, a young woman with human characteristics offsetting the bald head, tail, and odd bisecting crease at the center of her forehead. The last thing I wanted was for Dren to become a co-ed female going around seducing victims in order to get her jollies. The film, I worried, would end up being one more mainstream misstep. And while some of this is true—Dren does become a surrogate daughter of sorts for her creators—the plot travels a more interesting—if shocking—path. I don’t quite know if many attendees will be prepared for what they will see.
Splice begins darkly, terrifying with its sense of the impossible and unknown being realized before our eyes. Midway, it falls into a few genre traps and plot conveniences until the inevitable occurs between Fred and Ginger, laying the groundwork for Dren’s third and final evolutionary leap forward. It all culminates into a pitch-black, rough and tumble series of events addressing moral responsibility, sexual urges, and the possibilities of scientific speculation.
Do not take the R-rating for strong sexuality and nudity lightly. I’ll admit to never thinking Natali and company would go where they eventually do, but the final scene is perfect. The audience I watched with did unfortunately laugh at inappropriate moments, distracting me at crucial times. Hopefully, you’ll have better luck. Splice is definitely worth a look.
Splice 7/10
photography: [1] (L-R) SARAH POLLEY as Elsa Kast and ADRIEN BRODY as Clive Nicoli in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Dark Castle Entertainment's science fiction thriller "SPLICE," a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
[2] DELPHINE CHANEAC as Dren in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Dark Castle Entertainment's science fiction thriller "SPLICE," a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
