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SPLICE
(2010)
DIRECTOR:
Vincenzo Natali.
STARRING:
Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac, David Hewlett.
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There's not many films that can be summarised in a few basic lines, yet disturb the audience as much as viewing the film in it's entirety. But once
again, here at THEBLUDGEONER.COM - a mould will be broken. The following summary may be found disturbing by... MOST... audiences - hehe:
In SPLICE, two scientists (who are also lovers) create a new mutant variant of the female human. In studying this "monster" (and due to a psychotic paternal desperation)
the female scientist instinctively
becomes maternal and raises it like a child. As it grows it looks more human, only with a venomous tail, amphibious qualities, wings and HIND LEGS. The male scientist ends up
fucking the monster, then it dies, reincarnates as a male monster, kills the male scientist and rapes the female scientist. This leaves her with a child that she CHOOSES to
have for copious amounts of CASH!
So...
Monster... check.
Psychotic motivations... check.
Rape... check.
Incest... check.
Hermaphrodite... check.
Scandalous affair... check.
Death... check.
Adrien Brody's disturbingly huge, beak like nose... check.
Let me say - I've not seen a cinema full of so many people squirming in their fucking seats. This movie is not only dark and unusual - but at often times completely
uncomfortable to watch. Watching this movie is as uncomfortable to watch as an obese woman walking around in a bikini at the beach trying to pick up men totally
out of her league - minus the embarrassment!
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Director/writer Vincenzo Natali is a master of "head fuckery" (and a master of having an awesome name to pronounce with an Italian accent). A previous, more notable
writing/directing effort is CUBE. That should immediately sell his ability to fuck with your head - but this movie does it in a much more subtle way. It's story,
though completely detached from reality, is presented in a most non-surreal way. Obviously with genetic science being where it is right now, a similar occurence
is not completely beyond the stretches of reality, but it's still a fantasy concept, that you become completely entrenched in. You'll find yourself as invested
in this film, and the fate of all living being within the story, as you would a serious drama about possible and real events and people.
Bringing further believability to the film are our two lead characters. I won't use the word "heroes" because by the end of the film there won't be much about them you'll
like anymore - nor will you be rooting for them - or anyone for that matter. You'll just be hoping this big, horrible, dangerous mess of a situation is over and done with.
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^^ Elsa: Oh my god - it's kinda ugly!
Clive: I dunno... I think it's kinda sexy... |
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One time Hollywood heavyweight and Oscar winner Adrien Brody has certainly found a calling and a comfortable place within the scifi thriller genre with both this film
and Predators allowing him to flex his acting muscles while having some fun, which you can tell he IS having here! He brings a certain believable heart to his
role as the male scientist of the couple, Clive Nicoli. At first he doesn't want to create this new form of human, and once created, he insists constantly on trying
to kill it. The discovery of the creations amphibious ability only comes about through his attempted drowning of the young (in human years - VERY old in monster years)
female creature. For sometime through her upbringing, the creature, Dren, looks at Clive as the grumpy father figure. Of course, going by the summary, he certainly warms
up to her by the end - so much so he can't resist the charm of the creature when she comes onto him and he puts his penis in her monster vagina :|
The female scientist, Elsa Kast (Sarah Polley), also delivers the goods in this film. Her character, by the end, has projected all her inner darker side. Leaving her appearing
selfish, insecure and most definitely psychotic. At first she is the babying mother figure but as the creature rebels over constantly being confined to lock down, she grows
a nasty side. Sarah Polley is an actress I respect. She had her chance to be the next big thing in Hollywood actresses but never really embraced it. Instead she's chosen to
bury herself work as a writer, producer, director and actress - with the majority of her acting work being in more offbeat and unusual, through provoking films. Better known
titles being Dawn of the Dead (remake) & GO!
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This leads me to the amazing protrayal of the creature, Dren (Nerd spelt backwards - seriously - sure Gwyneth Paltrow aint the mother?), by foreign actress Delphine Chanéac.
Moments of the creature being discplined, or hurt, or just unloved, leave you genuinely feeling for her. The character development in whole (especially Dren) is what sets Splice
apart from most other genetic creation gone wrong scifi thrillers. It's played out like a drama that has many a fucked up moment - as opposed to "we humans - you monster =
you baddy and must die". In the end the only innocent thing in this film IS the monster - just following it's instinct from birth and trying it's best to be an uintended creation in a
world that never asked for it.
For one tiny, teeny weeny, itsy bitsy BARELY NEGATIVE commment - it would've been interesting to see what the mighty David Cronenberg would have done with this material.
It's very much up his alley - but he may well have taken into much darker, gorier territory. Anyway, Vincenzo Nitali contributed to production and writing so earned this
baby and the kudos it deserves. |
Dren: KISS ME YOU FOOL! ^^
Dren: But... you're my half daughter/half monster child! Ah... what the hell! |
To make special note - the most frightening experience I had during my weekend of movies at the cinema was when I saw Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Witnessing the entire cinema
burst into uproarious laughter during the trailer of "Vampires Suck" - the new supposed comedy abomination by the worst filmmakers of the new millenium, Jason Friedberg &
Aaron Seltzer. The cinema, filled with adults and teenagers, was in near hysterics after witnessing the hilarity of the Twilight spoof. Such amazing jokes as people falling
over, people being hit on the head and Jacob turning into a chihuaha instead of werewolf. I was literally shocked, then afraid, to see just how fucking dumb people have
become. I bring it up because I could've imagined the much smaller audience for Splice thinking the same thing as I did, "what the fuck are these people laughing at?" What
makes it worse is I'm a big fan of spoof comedy, eg. Naked Gun, Flying High and even the first two Scary Movie films. These movies are just simply for morons. I guess this
is what comes with seeing such a maintstream hit.
Anyway, if you dig dark films with substance, leaving you asking questions, don't miss Splice. Sure - it's marketing budget is next to zero - I'd never heard of it before. But that
doesn't mean it's a bad movie. Skip "Vampires Suck" and see Splice right away. It's a movie that will leave you in thought, and shock, for some time after.
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While digging out my Cronenberg classics on DVD for an uninterrupted viewing session, I give this film: |
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4 OUT OF 5 JAGER-BABIES. |
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