Splice is an all too rare gem of a sci-fi flick that manages to balance intelligence and good old-fashioned schlock. The story follows two cocky, young geniuses, Clive and Elsa, who embark on secret experiments in gene splicing, mixing animal and human DNA with the hope of finding a protein that could be medically beneficial for humans. In the process they create a female baby who is made up of a rather unpredictable mix of human and animal attributes. As the creature grows, so do the complications that she brings to Clive and Elsa’s lives.
Splice is a thoughtful and intelligent nightmare that raises as many issues about the darkness inside the mad scientist as it does about the monster they have created. But don’t expect a high-brow drama, this is a fun, often gory, highly entertaining film that will surely become a classic of modern sci-fi.
Words: Charlene Lydon
