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The wonder of Splice is that it takes a very, very old story and makes it feel shiny and new again. In the hopes of bioengineering cures for modern ailments, Clive and Elsa, a pair of geneticists, (Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley) create an artificial life form by splicing together human and artificial DNA. Instantly, hearing the mad-science-gone-wrong plot, you wonder: Is this Frankenstein? Is it The Island of Doctor Moreau? Godzilla? The answer to all those questions is no: By making Clive and Elsa lovers in a committed relationship, Splice instead becomes a family drama that’s alive with gory horror movie thrills.

Splice starts out well, introducing us to Elsa and Clive as a pair of loving, sexy nerds chafing at the constraints of a corporation that doesn’t understand that science can be art, too. Polley and Brody are much more believable scientists than, say, Denise Richardson’s nuclear physicist in The World Is Not Enough; they listen to techno and death metal and jazz, they wear fashionable clothing that fits, and they seem to enjoy the challenge of creating fleshy worm-creatures solely for the freaky love of science. When they create an armless monster they later name Dren (“nerd” backwards, yes, but also reminiscent of an earlier fight between the scientists about whether or not to have children, too), they learn that parenting is maybe not all it’s cracked up to be.

The effects in Splice are just about perfect. The fleshy creatures are suitably repellant, but they have weight and they react like biological creatures. They shiver and recoil at attacks, and they evoke sympathy in the viewer—they’re just dumb animals, after all. People expecting a jump-in-your-seat-fest will probably be disappointed at the lack of shocks, but Splice’s story—which starts out as a creature-feature, becomes tinged with the Shakespearean as things move along, and then crescendo into shrieking Greek tragedy before the end—should get a reaction out of just about everyone. It’s a creepy, repulsive monster movie with heart; you sure don’t see that every day.

Splice is all through playing at SIFF, but it opens in wide release on Friday. You should go see it.

12 replies on “SIFF Review: Splice”

  2. i thought the elsa character was nearly unwatchable, as she keeps asking ‘how much worse can it get’? also could have done without the explicit interspecies sex and rape scenes.

  4. @1 A lot of us thought that about District 9, too.

    Paul, how was the acting of the French actress that does Dren? I know that Polley, Brody and Hewlitt all can rock, but I hadn’t heard a single thing about the portrayal of the creature.

  5. Here, I’ll restate it in simpler words.

    Story is about fears of being a mother, fears of being a father, fears of adoption, fears of the unknown, fears of cradle-snatching elves putting changelings in your baby’s crib, and fears about sex leading to death.

    Everything else is just really scary stuff that will never happen unless you elect Republicants and let them destroy civilization – again.

  6. This movie was terrible. It felt like someone trying really hard to be David Cronenberg and falling very very short.

    There are several plot points that are thrown out and instantly dropped. Reference is made to Elsa’s crazy mother, near the end it’s thrown in her face as an insult but to no actual effect since it was only mentioned in passing reference once, with no context.

    In the last 20 minutes the movie goes from somewhat creepy family drama to a trip to horror town. However the situations are so ludicrous and since the characters don’t connect to the audience on any level it becomes downright comical. The audience at the midnight show at the egyptian were in hysterics at totally inappropriate times.

    I was however impressed with the special effects on the hybrid. They were well done and convincing.

  8. p.s. @6 I must have been at the same screening as you! Loved the guy who yelled out “It’s not what it looks like!” with the most perfect timing ever — did you hear that? The audience Sunday night was the best thing about the film!

  10. I was disappointed, all the elements of an outstanding move but it fell short. I loved the concept of mixing classic Frankenstein along with the Genesis of Eve’s temptation of Adam and their downfall.

    The special affects were excellent, but again I feel they blew it with poor execution of the story.

  11. I thought Adrian Brody did a phenomenal job in this movie. It was cool to see him in an action-type role. Plus, the special effects were awesome. If you see Splice for any reason, do it for the sfx.
    If you guys want a second look at the movie, it’s out on Movies On Demand. With Halloween coming up, it’s a great movie to get in the spirit with. It might not be one for the record books but it’s definitely a thrill. It hasn’t hit Netflix or Redbox yet, so check it out at http://www.facebook.com/cablevideostore

    I work with Movies on Demand so ask me anything.

  12. I thought Adrian Brody did a phenomenal job in this movie. It was cool to see him in an action-type role. Plus, the special effects were awesome. If you see Splice for any reason, do it for the sfx.
    If you guys want a second look at the movie, it’s out on Movies On Demand. With Halloween coming up, it’s a great movie to get in the spirit with. It might not be one for the record books but it’s definitely a thrill. It hasn’t hit Netflix or Redbox yet, so check it out at http://www.facebook.com/cablevideostore

    I work with Movies on Demand so ask me anything.

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