Splice (2009) [Blu-ray]
Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, they secretively take their experiment underground - risking their careers to push the boundaries of science and serve their own curiosity and ambition. The result is Dren, who exceeds their wildest dreams - and threatens to become their worst nightmare.

User Comment: derekrankine from Glasgow, Scotland, 4 March 2010 • Splice centres on two renowned young scientists (Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley) that are quasi-famous for successfully creating a new species of animal, a species with enormous pharmaceutical industry potential in the form of an ability to secrete profitable proteins. Despite a refusal by their company bosses to approve the next stage of the project, or anything that tampers with human DNA, their ambitions lead them to create a human-animal hybrid by combining human genes with those of the created species. This in turn leads to the creation of a new entity they name Dren, which they raise and attempt to study as a personal project concealed from their employers and colleagues.

The story becomes highly engrossing as we follow the creature's development alongside that of the two scientists, who are in a relationship that becomes increasingly strained by a series of ethical and logistical dilemmas. The two central performances are well-judged, but the real star is Dren; or the CGI responsible for her creation, which is always convincing and solid at all stages of the creature's evolution. Vincenzo Natali's visually intense direction is also worth mentioning, and he clearly enjoys playing with a generous budget as compared with his previous features like Cube.

This is, however, no modern masterpiece – the plot becomes predictable and contrived in the final third, the minor characters are little more than stereotypes (lax young brother, venal bosses) and the comedic elements of the film don't always sit comfortably with the horror aspects (there is, however, a notable exception in a hilarious scene towards the end). But these drawbacks are outweighed by the plus points, which makes Splice an enjoyable experience overall.

Summary: A likable but flawed sci-fi tale.

[CSW] -3- Unfortunately or fortunately I saw quite a bit of humor in this revamped Frankenstein story. Because I never developed a deep connection with the science or scientist because working in that field I recognized that they just never were quite believable and my suspension of disbelief snapped regularly. I still found the story entertaining enough to warrant renting it and as said above and worth repeating "the real star is Dren; or the CGI responsible for her creation, which is always convincing and solid at all stages of the creature's evolution."
V4.0-A4.0] MPEG-4 AVC
[CSW] -3- Unfortunately or fortunately I saw quite a bit of humor in this revamped Frankenstein story. Because I never developed a deep connection with the science or scientist because working in that field I recognized that they just never were quite believable and my suspension of disbelief snapped regularly. I still found the story entertaining enough to warrant renting it and as said above and worth repeating "the real star is Dren; or the CGI responsible for her creation, which is always convincing and solid at all stages of the creature's evolution."
[V4.0-A4.0] MPEG-4 AVC

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