If there’s one thing Splice doesn’t do, its take its time. Before you have a chance to get comfy you’re thrown straight into the mix. It feels as though within minutes Adrien Brody’s Clive and Katy Poly’s Elsa are well into their illegal experiments at the splicing of different DNA and genes for human cloning. If you’re a fan of unique genre films with a bit of thought behind them, this is one movie that absolutely deserves your support.
This is a creature feature that walks a fine, yet entertaining line between science-fiction and horror, without ever really allowing itself to get pigeonholed into either category long enough to become too clichéd. It’s not a traditional horror movie that goes for a lot of big scares, and instead chooses to unsettle you with imagery that is just that little bit too eerie and keep you feeling gradually more disturbed.
Splice follows young couple Clive and Elsa, as they secretly take a risk and use human DNA in their splicing experiments. The result is human hybrid Dren (newcomer Delphine Chaneac), an extraordinary creature that exhibits an array of unexpected developments, and may just be the next evolutionary step for mankind. It soon becomes clear that Clive and Elsa shouldn’t play with Mother Nature as Dren exceeds their expectations, and, ultimately, their worst nightmares.
Splice is an unsettling look at a horrifying future scenario that might be a lot closer than any of us care to realise. Vincenzo Natali originally planned on a much earlier release for his film, following on more closely to his 90s treat Cube, but had to delay production until special effects could match his vision. Splice is as much of a cautionary tale about people having kids before they’re ready as it is a time-worn tale of scientists playing God. It’s no coincidence that the film’s two protagonists are thinking about having a child together. In a pretty obvious sense, Dren becomes their child, and the movie becomes a way to explore the challenges and anxieties of becoming a parent. This theme, however obvious, helps bring about scenes of both humour and emotion, but also makes what is to come later that much more horrifying.
OVERALL SUMMARY
A perfect blend of thrills and chills, this disturbing and cautionary tale is a creepy, well-acted and memorable film. Sadly, Splice goes off the rails towards the end of the final act, becoming more of a by-the-numbers flick than the cerebral horror the first half of the film builds up to. Despite this though, it’s certainly one of the best thought-provoking horrors in recent years.
