Splice
For the second year in a row, a major studio has released a horror movie in the summer that pinpoints everything studios get wrong with horror movies. Last year, it was Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell.” This year, it’s the Sundance acquisition “Splice.”
The two have little in common save for not only being uncommonly good genre entries, but also for returning horror to its’ roots, in a way. The genre is- at its’ best- about moods, morality, and metaphors reflecting the times, though not always in the same movie. “Splice” accomplishes all of these things while also bringing to mind two of the pillars of the genre- James Whale’s “Frankenstein” & “Bride of Frankenstein.”
Adrien Brody and Sarah Polly star as Clive and Elsa, two of the best and brightest in the field of genetic splicing. They’ve just made their greatest breakthrough by creating two lifeforms from the genes of a variety of different animals- one male, one female (neither pretty to look at). However, the higher-ups at the pharmaceutical company they work at want to begin producing a protein gene now, while Clive and Elsa want to move onto the next step- mixing human DNA into the equation. Well, it’s not much of a stretch to say they decide to take it without approval, and…
…Well, in all honesty I’d rather not continue, except to say that the resulting being- which they name Dren- poses some interesting moral and emotional questions for the pair (whose relationship is romantic as well as scientific). Sometimes, co-writer/director Vincenzo Natali (who did the cult film “Cube” back in ’98) hits a lot of the familiar notes, but more often than not, he revels in toying with our expectations. His greatest accomplishment tonally is melding the mood of “Alien” with the unnerving sexuality of “Species” (which was never as bad as its’ reputation has been) into something that’s ultimately disquieting, especially when the reasons for Clive and Elsa’s motivations become unclear.
Brody and Polly do what is required of them, and it goes beyond what the genre usually requires. But the real star is French actress Delphine Chanéac, who plays Dren as an adult woman. Working through a combination of makeup and CG, she’s one of the most original horror creations in recent memory, and it’s a haunting and realistic sight to see. And Chanéac is mesmerizing in the role. Without dialogue, she uses pantomime and movement to create the character. You won’t be able to take your eyes off of her, and though the film ends with a very typical chase scene, you won’t be able to keep your mind from asking the moral questions at the heart of “Splice.” It’s that mesmerizing an experience, and that frightening a story.
