Splice (2009)

She's not human... not entirely.

A pair of rebellious scientists, who also happen to be a couple, secretly take their groundbreaking scientific research to a new level against the orders of the employer who wants to redirect their focus to creating profitable commodities from their existing research instead of pushing it forward in the hopes of new exciting discoveries.

But their work takes an unexpected turn when their human-animal hybrid experiment, which they had intended to abort before it came to term, develops at an alarming rate and is born. The new being, which they name Dren, becomes increasingly human in appearance as it rapidly develops to adulthood.

The scientists, forced to hide their illegal and unsanctioned experiment, begin to take Dren on as their own daughter. But is she as she seems?

Splice is a genuinely different movie, that much is true. It isn't particularly scary or suspenseful, but different it certainly is. Over-all, not a bad movie. It does keep the viewers interest because its hard to guess what bizarre or disturbing turn of events will happen next as Dren matures and goes through a variety of interesting changes and mood swings.

The movie also plays around with the ongoing debate about the morality of certain scientific fields. While not actually mentioned specifically, stem cells come to mind. The movie doesn't make a definitive statement, but it seems to come out on the irrational, anti-science, side of the argument. However, according to writer and director Vincenzo Natali, this was never the intent of the movie and in fact it is only meant to be a cautionary tale about the need for the mature and careful use of such technology.

Either way, Splice was ultimately an enjoyable film which was good, but maybe not amazing. It also ended with a huge open door for sequels: sequels which will surely have no hope of being as good as the original film and, if produced, will undoubtedly be primarily action films and will lose the edgy, messed-up, drama of the original.

3 blob fights out of 5
Rated R for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language.

Watch the Splice trailer.