Available on DVD, Blu_ray Combo Pack and Digital Download as of 10.5.10
Splice, directed by Vincenzo Natali and written by Vincenzo Natali and Antoinette Terry Bryant, is yet another scifi movie that delves into the ages old cautionary tale of of what happens when humankind attempts to ‘play God’ through reckless scientific research. While the ghoulish means of using dead human body parts to create a life have been replaced by high tech labs and fancy DNA splicing techniques, the outcome remains the same in Splice as it did in Frankenstein whereas the creature ultimately turns on the creator.
Despite having an updated take on this solid scifi theme and award winning actor Adrian Brody as the star, Splice didn’t do very well at the box office. The filming budget for Splice, which was released into theaters on June 6, 2010, was roughly estimated at 26,000,000. During its run month long run in the theaters in the USA, this scifi thriller only grossed an estimated $16,999,046 which made Splice a box office failure.
However this doesn’t mean that Splice isn’t an entertaining movie and with its release onto DVD, Blu_ray and Digital Down Load, it makes a great treat for Halloween movie watching fun.
Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, they secretly take their experiment underground: risking their careers to push the boundaries of science and serve their own curiosity and ambition.
The result is Dren, an amazing, strangely beautiful creature of uncommon intelligence and unexpected physical developments. At first, Dren exceeds their wildest dreams. But as she grows and learns at an accelerated rate, her existence threatens to become their worst nightmare.
Splice has some decent acting from both Brody and Polley who come across as very earnest in their roles as dedicated, be egocentric scientists. Where Clive and Elsa lost their believability as characters was in how sloppy and careless they were presented as being. Things like eating pizza in the lab and putting the handles of surgical instruments into their mouths makes them less credible and laughable as real scientists in a real lab. I understand if they are careless about checking up on the data about the hormones, but things like cleanliness and being sure not to contaminate the experiments is something, that should have been shown as being second nature to them.
The creature character of Dren is the best part of the movie. She is brought to life on the screen by a combination of the talents of actress Delphine Chaneac and of very lifelike CGI effects that are so well blended together that she comes across as a very convincingly real.
Splice has its good points and it really does set out to be scary, but it just seems like somewhere along the line, director/writer Vincenzo Natali lost track of what he was trying to put across on screen and the movie devolves in to an erratic, generic B grade horror flick.
The release of Splice onto DVD and Blu_ray could have benefit from having some really cool behind the scenes featurettes. Unfortunately, it has absolutely none at all to offer the viewer.
Still, if you are looking for something to watch for as part of a Halloween scarefest, Splice is a decent choice.
Movie Content – C
Special Features – F
Overall grade – C+