SPLICE

What's the worst that could happen? This hypothetical is posed throughout director Vincenzo Natali's Splice--a film starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley as Clive and Elsa: two dating, hipster scientists that aim to push the boundaries for synthetic enzyme production. In layman terms: finding cures for Parkinson's, and various cancers.

Clive and Elsa are the new breed of scientist; they listen to rock music while nosing around petrie dishes, wear patterned suits with t-shirts and plastic yellow sunglasses. They also create new species, mixing various animal DNA that eventually become Ginger and Fred: two slug-like creatures with slick tongues and a sharp tooth. When a presentation to potential buyers goes horrifically wrong, their labs are then given to different brains, ones that make their investors a profit.

In the meantime, through Elsa's incessant pushing, she and Clive incorporate human DNA with their animal hodgepodge. We all know this is wrong, but the thrill of discovery and the hope of cures outweigh the criminal and ethical implications. At one point, they have a chance to destroy the spliced composite; an incubating timer acts as a moral countdown. They of course let this pass and the aforementioned question is answered. The worst, it seems, is quite bad.

After a tumultuous "birth" in an artificial womb, Dren is born. First resembling a young kangaroo, Dren eventually grows exponentially to a statuesque woman--albeit with ostrich legs and a tail with a lethal stinger. From the onset, a family dynamic is shared between Dren and Elsa, a fact that is fully explained in the third act. Ultimately, Elsa fails as a mother as hers did before her. This history is thankfully only hinted at and some information is left to the imagination.

I have been a fan of Vincenzo Natali, since he directed 1997's now cult favourite Cube. Both Cube and Splice do a tremendous job of building tension while still developing the story and characters. Unfortunately, Natali's latest effort, after gaining so much momentum, tends to go where so many mainstream thrillers have gone before--with obligatory action. There are a few hokey moments: Clive and Elsa's place of work is the Nucleic Exchange Research Development building, and an odd dance scene come to mind. My only real complaint is that the film telegraphed itself a little too much for my liking at the end. At the same time, the fact that Natali went through with what was hinted at should be commended. With the performances from Brody and Polley (a welcome sight back in front of the camera), and the direction of Natali, Splice offers intrigue and raises interesting questions that is rare in today's films.

At the midway point, it doesn't take a scientist's intellect to see that the story will not end well. Lives are lost and lines are crossed. By the time Clive and Elsa realize the gravity of their decisions, it's far too late to step back and redeem themselves.