
I just came home from watching Spliced, a sci-fi horror-movie by Vincenzo Natali (the guy whomade Cubes) and starring Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley and Delphine Chanéac
Spliced tells the story about two scientists (Brody and Polley), who have made groundbreaking discoveries in splicing genes from different animals and thus create new creatures. After their latest sucess, two hybrids called Fred and Ginger (who look like something Franken Fran would sew together on a day off), they wish to go even further and add human DNA into the mix. Due to the public reaction to a move like that, their employer won't allow them to do so, but naturally they do it anyway. The result is Dren, a strange female creature who has her share of suprises.
Unlike most Sci-Fi films these days, Splice dosen't focus that much at action, but at the story and characters, which is a good thing. Brody and Polley both do a great job and they have good chemistry. But the one who steals the show is without a doubt Delphine as Dren. The effects that create Dren are great and it's really interesting to see how she goes through her various stages of maturity. But when Dren is grown up, Delphine is able to give her a wonderfull mix of childlike innocence, animal-like cuteness and creepyness. Truly some excelent acting.
Also, unlike most movies where scientists play God, Splice never says anything about wether science like this is right or wrong. Shure, it puts up the ethical and moral questions surrounding such science, but never points any fingers. Instead, the reasons things go wrong is basicly because the two scientists are lousy parents. Science itself isn't good or evil, but it all boils down to the human factor.
As for now, all you need to know is that Splice is a great sci-fi film that you should go see. It has some problems and the ending is weak compared to the rest of the movie, but other than that it's truly interesting and something you won't forget in a while.
I give it an 8(-)/10.

Next week I plan to see a movie that I've been waiting on for a long time, strangly also starring Adrian Brody, Predators. Finally it's comming to this rock that I live on.
