Quick Info
Splice is one of those sci-fi flicks that feels like it came out of nowhere and then stuck in my brain for weeks afterwards. The premise is pure mad scientist: two ambitious genetic engineers (Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley) combine animal and human DNA, and - surprise - it all goes sideways. The first half hums along with a kind of clinical curiosity, following the lab rats as they cross some very questionable ethical lines. The energy is tense but also a little playful, especially as the creature, Dren, grows up. There’s this odd push-pull between fascination and unease, and that's where the movie is at its best.
The tone is unmistakably weird. There are moments that made me laugh (sometimes awkwardly), but it's not exactly a horror-comedy. Vincenzo Natali sets things up with a sterile, almost cold visual style, which makes Dren's evolution feel even more unnatural. The creature effects are a mix of seamless CGI and practical makeup and they're just convincing enough that the uncanny valley effect kicks in hard. It’s effective - Dren’s presence is both mesmerizing and unsettling.
Acting-wise, this is one of the rare sci-fi movies where the characters feel like actual weirdos rather than generic brainy types. Sarah Polley, in particular, sells the obsessive, almost maternal drive behind her character. Adrien Brody does a decent job, though he occasionally slips into that mopey shtick that can be distracting. Delphine Chanéac, as Dren, is haunting - she delivers emotion and confusion without saying a word.
The plot can get pretty heavy-handed, especially once it barrels into the third act. The movie knows it’s playing with big ethical themes - bioethics, parenthood, the nature of "playing God" - but it can’t quite decide whether it’s a cautionary tale or a gonzo monster movie. Some of the twists work, some just feel cheap and melodramatic. When the story goes for shock value, it sometimes lands but it also can't resist being goofy.
What I appreciated most is that Splice is never boring. There are no recycled beats or tired chases. It swings big from moment one and just keeps getting stranger. But it also wobbles tonally, especially in the final stretch when things spiral out. The pacing gets frantic, and the resolution, for me, lands with more of a "wait, what?" than a satisfying gut punch.
So is it a good movie? I think it’s a fascinating, flawed mess. One of those you’ll want to talk about after, even if it's just to unpack the bonkers choices it makes. Not for everyone, but if your taste leans offbeat and darkly funny, it delivers something most Hollywood sci-fi doesn’t even try.
The R8 Take
Splice is the kind of slippery, uncomfortable sci-fi that lingers in your mind for all the wrong reasons. It's got a raw edge to it, like a mix between Cronenberg and Species, and you'll probably want a shower once the credits roll.
