I've mentioned previously I like the look of this little production and managed to procure a copy for perusal today, doing so this very wet and wild afternoon.
Two scientists (Adrien Brody & Sarah Polley) splice animal & human DNA to create a hybrid being- the initially passive Dren (Delphine Chaneac).
As Dren begins to learn and grow at an accelerated rate, the animal/human hybrid begins to display more aggressive behavior (actually due to hormonal inconsistencies the creature undergoes a spontaneous sex change) becoming a nightmare for both the scientists, and anyone unfortunate enough to cross paths with the dangerous creature.
All in all I found this flick to be, while perfectly adequately executed, a tad derivative with definite leanings toward Cronenberginess (The Fly) and had to be bolstered along it's journey with well above average performances from Brody and Polley.
Brody's solid as the somewhat more level-headed of the two scientists, although all that goes out the window in the second half of the film when his relationship with Dren gets .. erm .. somewhat 'heated'.
Polley really engages with the material, and anchors the film with a performance that doesn't shy away from being somewhat unlikable at times. Her relationship with Dren becomes just as twisted as Brody's, and there are even a few scenes between the two where you might find yourself sympathizing with Dren. My only real problem is that Polley's actions in the last act of the film don't exactly jibe with the way the character's portrayed earlier in the film, which leads the film to end on fairly predictable note.
Meanwhile, as Dren, Delphine Chaneac (supported by nothing short of breathtaking CGI) is both creepy, and unsettlingly attractive in an androgynous, freaky way. While she's no Natasha Henstridge style sex bomb a la SPECIES, the character is still made attractive enough to make you understand that the scientists could grow attached, and even attracted to it (although the wings and legs might be a tad offputting to anyone but the least fussy - I probably would).
Overall, I'd say SPLICE was a perfectly decent genre thriller. While it's not terribly original, it is well directed, and acted. The script could have used some work, but overall it's a pretty solid movie- although I'm not sure it's good enough to justify taking a squiz if there's anything better on your viewing horizons.
Overall 6.5-7.0/10
I like him ... He says "Okie Dokie!"