Splice

So imagine a completely absurd premise wrapped in a repulsive film that actually, somehow, manages to be mildly entertaining. Hmmm.

Scientist couple Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley decide to create a new being by combining DNA from several different creatures, including human, to benefit all of mankind (the new being’s DNA will apparently cure the most incurable of diseases).

After a few failed attempts, a little, spunky, ugly… thing is produced. The creature, soon dubbed Dren (Nerd backwards, get it!?), grows rapidly in body and mind, but becomes more agitated and restless with each passing day. After a few weeks the couple moves Dren, who is now human size, has kangaroo-like legs, and an alien-like face, to an abandon barn.

Now, let’s kick up the gross factor. And yeah, shit gets pretty nasty. We all know where the plot is going: Dren is going to lash out, revolt. The whole pet-project-gets-a-mind-of-its-own-and-goes-crazy, thing. You may be expecting that tired plot device, but the stuff in between is what will get you stirring in your seats.

I don’t want to give too much away but let me just say, it’s probably not the best idea to have sex right in front of your new, intelligent, alien-like being. She may… you know, get ideas.

Brody and Polley work well together, but the movie doesn’t really amount to much. Director Vincenzo Natali, who’s best known for the trippy flick Cube and the worst segment in Paris je’taime (the vampire one with Elijah Wood), leaves you with plenty to be grossed out by, but not much more.

And that’s what Splice has to offer: plenty of nasty shit that you will talk, and think about, days after you leave the theatre. It just may not be a conversation you want to have. D+