Splice 
Take one troubled scientist with “issues”, Elsa (Sarah Polley), and her pussy-whipped scientist boyfriend, Clive (Adrien Brody), put them together in a “we shouldn’t do this” sci-fi story and you have Splice. Despite the potentially interesting premise of man interfering with the natural order of things with dire consequences, director Vincenzo Natali (Cube) has delivered a ham-fisted sci-fi/ horror combo that straddles both genres and fails to deliver effectively with either. Elsa and Clive have been at the forefront of genetic experimentation, going as far as creating a creature formed from the DNA of various other animals. This is all good and well, and proves promising in that the creature produces enzymes that can potentially cure cancer, Alzheimer’s and a variety of other diseases. After funding from their backers is threatened the two scientists decide to go out on a limb (after morally debating the wisdom of their decision for a good thirty seconds) and meld human DNA with their newly-formed creature. This leads to the creation of a new hybrid creature that resembles a cross between the baby in Eraserhead and a gel covered weasel. Soon the creature, eventually named Dren , begins to morph into something more human-looking and grows at a rapid rate. Up until this point the film has been moderately compelling and interesting, but when the grown Dren reaches teenage-hood the film grinds to a halt with cheesy sentiment, embarrassing dialog and a cringe-worthy dance-sequence. Suspense and horror is hinted at time and time again but never manifests itself until the final five minutes and even then it just proves to be a hackneyed exercise in predictability. Despite the ridiculous subject matter it’s all played with such earnest seriousness by Brody and Polley that you can’t help but shake your head in amusement. The creature starts off a gelatinous mess, morphs into Bjork and by the time it ultimately “evolves” into Billy Corgan the viewer has long since lost interest. |
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