MOVIE REVIEW: After weeks of lackluster sequels and factory-produced epics, finally a movie with some real shock and awe for adult audiences to enjoy. Vincenzo Natali's 2010 Sundance Festival hit 'Splice' arrives as the year's best hybrid. With towering performances from Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley comes nail-biting drama and a provocative & chilling story that may be more science fact than fiction.
One of the year's most daring and original films, "Splice" is that rare mix of genres that adds up into something both terrifying and beautiful. A modern day twist on the Frankenstein myth, what gives the film considerable weight is its trio of lead performances that are as bold as the narrative itself. And, in a season woefully lacking in real entertainment value at the movies, "Splice" actually dares to leave plenty of room for thought amidst some very effective scares.
Oscar winner Adrien Brody ("The Pianist") and Oscar nominee Sarah Polley ("Away from Her") prove the foundation of "Splice," delivering two richly nuanced performances as genetic engineers Clive and Elsa. Consider them "The DNA-Team" thanks to their rock star allure and groundbreaking research in the splicing of animal DNA to create the most extraordinary -- and financially profitable -- hybrids.
Emboldened by their most recent success, Elsa cannot help but want to take their research to a new level: introducing human DNA into the mix. Risking their reputations and careers, the duo dares to conduct their own covert project. The result is Dren (newcomer Delphine Chaneac), a strangely beautiful creation that is not human. Well, not entirely.
Once Dren is born, Clive and Elsa struggle with the moral and ethical consequences of their actions. While Clive wants to destroy the creature, Elsa's latent maternal instincts kick into overdrive. As Dren begins her rapid devlopment into adulthood, the couple struggles with keeping her a secret, while dealing with all the problems faced by new parents. For a split second, they function as a stable and happy family unit, much to Elsa's pleasure. Yet, too many lines are crossed to not have to face dire truths and Dren quickly evolves from life-changing achievement to a life-threatening nightmare.
The beauty of "Splice" is that Canadian director Vincenzo Natali proves as fearless as the material he's written with Antoinete Terry Bryant and Doug Taylor. Unlike the recent horror travesty known as "The Human Centipede," audiences are given more than just shock value. It blends the best parts of psychological drama with full-bodied creature movie fear. Picture Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott's "Alien" in an expertly crafted package that doesn't pretend to offer a judgment on science or other topical issues. Thanks to the stellar turns by Brody and, especially, Polley, "Splice" hits some high notes not usually found in genre films.
A slick twist on the mad doctor fable, it is Polley who rules "Splice" with an iron will that is often breathtaking to view. As Elsa, she proves as terrifying as her doting lab-made progeny. It is heartbreaking to watch her use Dren to not only fulfill her ambitions, but erase her own past as a neglected and abused child. Polley's comand of the screen reaches an unforgettable peak when she reduces Dren back into being "the experiment" in a grisly and cruel scene near the end of the film.
Brody is by no means overshadowed by Polley's performance, either. As Clive, the Oscar winner has the challenging role of providing audiences with some sort of conscience once Dren is born. Yet, he also bears the distinction of carrying perhaps the most difficult layer of "Splice," when it goes from psychological to sexual in a mind-bending sequence of events. (In fact, part of the fun in watching the film is wondering exactly how far the movie will go. For every line crossed, two more are drawn in the sand as these characters make some very unwise decisions.)
You can see the influence of producer Guillermo del Toro, who had a hand in the uniquely creepy but plausible creation that is Dren. Acted by French-born Chaneac, she is a movie hybrid of CGI and real human attributes. Both familiar and otherworldly, Dren is no freakshow of a character. Despite not having any dialogue of her own, Cheneac must rely on her own beautifully expressive eyes and exquisite physical grace to bring dimension and emotion to the role. Despite this being her first major film, she proves just as adept in filling up the screen as her better known co-stars.
Reaction to "Splice" was designed to be strong, particularly as the film crosses over into a mainstream audience sect. Yet, in a season marred by unrealized expectations, here's a much-needed example of bold filmmaking. Don't be put off by its fantastic premise and sensationalistic images. You really won't find a better reason to sit in the dark than with this lively creation.
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SPLICE (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Vincenzo Natali
Written by: Vincenzo Natali & Antoinette Terry Bryant and Doug Taylor
Cast: Adrien Brody (Clive); Sarah Polley (Elsa) and Delphine Chaneac (Dren).
Rating: R
"Splice" is now playing citywide. L.A. moviegoers can click on Fandango, MovieTickets and NCM for ticket and theater information, as well information on IMAX presentations.
Keep reading the Personalities page on Examiner.com for more on "Splice" this weekend, plus the latest movie reviews, box office updates, celebrity and industry news.
Watch this special internet trailer of "Splice," starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley.
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