Splice (2010) R

This is an odd little flick worth a peak for Sci-Fi junkies. It has a small cast and is riddled with special effects. Writer/director Vincenzo Natali (Cube) really sets the mood, but I'm not sure the payoff will have people looking back at their experience with good thoughts. The two main players are Adrien Brody (The Pianist, The Jacket) and Sarah Polley (Dawn of the Dead, The Sweet Hereafter). Brody is a tremendous actor who I always enjoy, and Polley is never bad, as is the case here. Brody is Clive, a controversial scientist who some would say crosses the line with his research. His girlfriend Elsa (Polley) is his partner. They basically spend every waking moment together at work and at home.

They are working on an unusual experiment where they splice a handful of organisms together. The organisms combine to make a disgusting worm-like creature. They splice two creatures, one male and one female. The creatures become mates. They seem harmless and Clive and Elsa believe this could be the beginning of something wonderful. So many medical mysteries could be cured with their invention. Things are going great, so Elsa splices another organism, but this time with some human DNA. Clive is unaware she has done so. He finds out about it and is irate and threatens to kill it. He sleeps on it and they decide to see what becomes of it. If caught they will spend many years in prison, so they know the consequences; or do they?

A few days into the splice, they think the organism has died, but they soon realize a creature is loose in their laboratory. They eventually catch it. It looks similar to a person, but with a sharp tail, four fingers/toes, wings and other insect-like features. Elsa immediately bonds with it, but Clive wants it gone. He attempts to kill it, but it only gets stronger in the process. They name it Dren (Delphine Chaneac). The problem is that this thing continues to grow at an unbelievable rate. Just a few weeks in, she looks like a 12-year-old. Before long, Dren is as big as Clive and Elsa.

Their previous work with the original spliced creatures gets forgotten about. Regardless, they put on an expo to display the ugly creatures to the public. What they don't know is that the female organism has changed and is now a male. The two male organisms attack each other and rips each other to shreds. Blood flows all over the stage and Clive and Elsa's research is shut down. They must now move Dren to a different location.

They move her to Elsa's deceased mother's farmhouse. They set her up in the barn. Elsa and Clive begin fighting often over the whole situation. The tables have turned. Clive really likes Dren and Elsa despises her. Elsa begins to act psychotic and Clive is also losing his marbles. Dren begins throwing herself at Clive and for a reason not known to man, he fornicates with the creature. He is caught in the act by Elsa. Yikes...now what? In the blink of an eye their relationship is done for, and their creation has now become dangerous. However, they are unaware that Dren is a killing machine just waiting to feast on anything that moves.

The shocking final 30 minutes will either make or break this film for most. I found it to be grotesque, but commendable. The performances are fine, and the writing is clever. This film goes where not many will ever go, which is way too far. Say what you will, but this film will shock you, and have you talking afterwards. Brandon McGibbon (Killshot, Saw V), Simona Maicanescu and David Hewlett (Cube) makeup the bulk of the supporting cast. It's pretty simple, if you like Sci-Fi films then give this one a try. Otherwise, nope.
B-