'Splice'

'Splice' (R) (Rental)

Writers: Antoinette Terry Bryant, Doug Taylor and Vincenzo Natali
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Starring: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Caneac, Abigail Chu

"Splice comes oh so close to being a cult type classic horror movie. The movie is on it's way to being pure gold until an ending that lets the movie down. It has two of the smartest actors in movies today and a talented new director but in the end the movie just can't seal the deal. The movie stars two actors who are very smart and always pick worthy projects. Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley play two scientists who create a project for animal gene splicing of several species. To speed things up they add human DNA to the experiment and finally create a strange hybrid creature of animal and human. The creature grows from a lump to a strangely beautiful child with alien type eyes and a tail like an animal. The scientists have to take the creature that they name Dren and hide her in a cabin and raise her as she grows up. The movie is very intriguing in the first half and there is some humor as the scientists deal with the creature who exhibits growing pains and rebellion. She pretty much becomes a teenager and that's when the creature becomes restless and all hell breaks loose.

The acting by Brody and Polley is very impressive and solid as they do a good job playing this material straight. It is a risky plot that could come off as silly but director Vincenzo Natali does a good job creating suspense and thrills. The actors never go over the top and the material doesn't either at first. There are some priceless reaction shots from Brody during some intentionally funny moments as the scientists become parents so to speak. Now they are parents of a half animal, half human but parents the same. The last half hour though starts to lose it's footing as some unintentional laughs pop up. The movie loses it's suspenseful momentum and ends in a cheesy way that I predicted beforehand. There is no impact at the end or nothing to haunt you or make you think. The movie ends in silly chases and ridiculous near kills and battles. What could have been a solid and delightfully crazy monster movie ends with a whimper and an ordinary ending. It is half a good movie in search of a hard hitting ending.

P.S. I have gotten rid of my 2 1/2 star review that usually means that I found the movie a near miss. I have realized that it is a lame star rating and I have now replaced it with a (rental) suggestion. That means that it might be a good bet on DVD to rent and watch at home but not good enough to rush out and see it.