
You may not like Splice. I’m not sure how that’s possible if you’re reading a site called CHUD.com and you’ve been coming here for any amount of time, but it’s possible that Vincenzo Natali’s Splice may not completely work for you. It’s not a perfect film. It’s not the next great thing. It’s not going to redefine the way you look at movies.
But it’s damn good, and even if you find that you don’t like it, I guarantee you’re going to at least be able to admit that it’s interesting and it’s unique and it’s pretty incredible that a studio like Warner Bros gave it a major release.
And that’s why you have to go see it this weekend. This is one bad summer, and it’s just going to keep getting worse. There are reasons for it, including fallout from the writer’s strike, but the reality is that summer 2010 is the end result of box office returns from previous years. The fact that people have flocked to so many terrible movies over the last few years, and in such record numbers, has emboldened Hollywood to try even less.
So now it’s time to embolden them to try a little more. Splice wasn’t made by Warner Bros, but rather picked up by the studio after Sundance. I doubt a movie as weird and quirky and, frankly sick as Splice would ever get through the corporate development system, but what’s important is that the movie is finally coming. And it’s coming to a theater near you. All too often I see people in the comments and the message board say they would love to go see an interesting, artful and unique film in theaters, but it’s not playing in their area.
Splice is playing in your area. It’s a wide release, which means that all but the most remote of you should have little problem finding a theater playing it. Make a trip out of it with your friends, plan dinner and drinks around it. Just get out there and support it with your money.
I’m not promising you’ll like it, even though I liked it quite a bit. I’m just asking you to put your money where your mouth is. You wanted to see summer movies that broke the blockbuster bullshit mold and that played outside of New York and LA… well, here one is. Here’s a movie that’s defiantly weird, that goes places no sane movie would go, that isn’t afraid to embrace some dark humor and to try and creep you out on a deep, human level at the same time. That’s a movie that deserves your support.
So go see Splice. If you didn’t like it, come back here and tell us why. But know that you went out and voted with your ticket, that you sent a message to Warner Bros that you’d prefer them to keep taking chances, to keep trying new things, to not always be safe. Know that you sent a message to the studios that they don’t have to make horrible movies like Killers or Marmaduke or Gulliver’s Travels, that you won’t wait to see the interesting films at home.
And if you don’t go, I don’t want to hear you complaining the next time there’s a shitty remake or a shitty sequel or a shitty movie based on a shitty toyline or cartoon. It’s time to put up or shut up, and I think we should all happily walk up to the box office window and put up this weekend. I know I will be.





53 comments
Couldn't agree more.
Money talks. Tired of seeing crap on the screen? Quit complaining and speak with your wallet.
Going tonight. Super stoked for this.
I would watch this one without second thoughts.. of course, it's not being released in my country..
alright. alright. I'll go. Though, I might also check out Get Him to the Greek.
Devin, Inception is also coming so I hope is not all lost. But I have realised that when you campaign for a movie, that movie flops, like kick ass and equilibrium. Im not saying it's your fault. Im saing it's just a weird coinsidence.
Wow for once I agree with Devin. I know I ill be personally driving about 50 miles to go see it on opening night since my town didn't
get it. Like seriously I'm tired of the bullshit main stream movies now a days. Been waiting for splice for some time now, super excited for this!
amen.
Alternatively, do you think that the success/failure of Inception will send a similar message to studios, or is that film more of a one-off carte blanche deal that won't be viewed as a precedent for taking risks on interesting material but more so on interesting/profitable filmmakers? (Seeing Splice tonight, btw)
I loved this movie.
Go see it in a theatre or we will have to endure reboots 4 ever. 🙁
I´d be first in line if this movie opened today in Mexico, but sadly, small movies like this one, take months to get here, if they ever do. I´ll probably have to wait for the DVD to come out or until one of the few genre festival we got here picks it up
You've seen Gullivers Travels?
i'll be coaching the half-hearted, half-dead people who come to my theater with no idea whats playing directly into the path of Splice this weekend. Its very disturbing exactly how many people come to the movie with no plan or idea, they just show up and go by posters or the opinion of me and the others working box office. I am very proud to say i got several families to NOT see Shrek 4 in 3D, Marmaduke should be easier to turn them away as well, but i'll take this weekend as a challenge.
Wish more people felt this way! Jesus, I work in an office and all the people around me are excited to take their kids to see the dog movie this weekend. I've been posting messages on facebook and tellings all the folks around me to go see these for two weeks. Really hope it doesn't flop. It's a great movie, saw a few weeks ago and there was a q&a with the director and it was just a great experience. Can you imagine a summer line-up with like 10, 15… 20 interesting movies!??! I can… I can imagine it.
i've tried my best to pass this article on to as many of my friends as possible. I'm going to see it and will bring a bunch of friends 🙂
If you can't talk people into going, damn well buy them a ticket and make them go. I'm buying 10 evening tickets and if I can't get 10 takers, I'll fucking give them away to people at the theater. Let's win this one.
Finished watching this at a matinee about thirty minutes ago. There were about 40 other people in the theater, the majority of them senior citizens. Was hoping some would walk out, but nothing as crazy as I thought appeared on screen. The audience laughed the most at a part I wasn't sure was played for laughs. Good film, not quite perfect, was hoping for something mindblowing towards the end that didn't happen.
I saw Splice right after Get Him to the Greek, great flick btw, and I loved it. I thought it was "believable" and "realistic" in all the right ways and can't believe that it went where it went, not only once but twice. I wasn't the biggest fan of the final scene but I guess every flick nowadays needs to set up potential sequels. Besides that though, I loved the direction, the characters, and especially the sexy creature. Splice is everything Species should have been but wasn't. This flick is the type of movie Cronenberg should be making in between movies starring Viggo Mortenson as a naked badass. I highly recommend it.
Nice article, I'm trying to get some friends to go see it. Might have to resort to blackmail, they might not remember New Year's, but I do, and so does my camera….
Thought the trailers were incredibly stupid. Watched it with a buddy based on the good word from here and AICN. Thought it was fun and weird, also helped get rid of the bad taste from Prince of Persia. Definitely doesn't go where you expect summer movies to go.
I saw the 11:30 am showing of Splice today, after not reading anything about it and remaining spoiler free. And it was boring. It was dull, emo, and way too drawn out. The only thing that made me chuckle was the fact that the female lead was portrayed as a neurotic, devious mess. The ending was stupid and predictable. At least SIFF is in town because I need to actually watch something good to clean my palate.
Sadly, the trailers don't make it look even remotely interesting and the fact that the chick has a head/face like an ass is way too distracting for me. I'll have to pass.
Thanks Dev! Great article, and a great cause. I'm seeing it tonight.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Slither, Running Scared, Punisher: War Zone, Observe And Report—why do I feel like we're going to soon be adding Splice to the sad litany of Chud endorsed cinema that dies a quick death at the box-office? I mean, it'd be nice if the readership of this or any web site could make a difference, but we're mostly adult males, and it takes women and/or families to make a hit these days. And the women will be seeing Killers (or Sex And The City, still), and the families will be seeing Marmaduke or Shrek. Sad, but I'm right.
Saw it, loved it. The mall crowd didn't know what hit them. (Saw it at the mall because it's close and Alamo wasn't showing it. But glad we did because the reactions were priceless.)
I appreciate your article and respect your opinion, but I was not a fan of Splice. I know a lot of people reading this are going to hate on me, but hear me out.
The movie was interesting in a terribly sick, twisted way. My problem with the movie wasn't the acting or story line it was the fact that the movie easily foreshadowed the chain of events. That bores me to tears.
Just got back, Splice was crazy and pretty great. I too saw it with the mall crowd and they were either speechless or groaning. Some people walked out. Best movie I've seen in theaters so far in 2010.
Agree with the sentiment, and will be watching it if it comes to my town. Devin, this might be a good time to review Natali's 'Cypher' (aka 'Brainstorm' – a terrible title) in the Movie of the Day column. It's a superb little flick that I'd watch again this week if whichever of my friends had borrowed my DVD had actually given it back.
I saw "Splice" at a free screening and that crowd seemed to really respond to it. I don't think it got a any bad laughs; It was more of a "holy-shit-this-can't-be-happening" response. This is a really good sci-fi horror and it should not be ignored like you so-called Raimi fans did with "Drag Me to Hell".
"I don't want to hear you complaining the next time there's a shitty remake or a shitty sequel or a shitty movie based on a shitty toyline or cartoon" – GI Joe, 8.5/10!
Yes, I agree with you Devin. It's up to all of us to support quality films. We get what we deserve. And for the record, 2010 has been the worst year for films I can remember. And I'm in my thirties.
Check out Joe Rogan's ringing endorsement via Twitter: "Splice may very well be the dumbest fucking movie in the history of dumb movies. The whole theater was laughing at how stupid it was."
I think you give studio executives too much credit. The message they receive won't be "produce bold scripts;" it'll be, "greenlight all the body horror you can find!"
Caught a late show last night. Really enjoyed it–no classic, but a solid film. Upon leaving, I heard at least 3 different negative reactions from the audience. (Bet they all LOVED the Elm St. remake.)
Went and saw Splice last night. Wasnt too bad. I really did think it was interesting and a movie that goes were no one else will go. But I cant really say I loved it or anything.
Still was interesting.
At the end of the day, movies like this exist. We have moon and district 9 and drag me to hell. They come few and far between. I wish box office was kind to this films, but I'm just happy they make them at all.
Hell i was going to wait for the BD but now I feel bad. Checking the movie times now.
Cinemactik sounds like a real loser.
totally agree devin and saw it today. i was actually surprised the theater was even half full for a matinee. some ppl laughed at certain dark turns in the last thrid, but maybe its because they were uncomfortable with where it was going. its not perfect, but for unique, summer fare – you cant do better. thx for the recommendation!
I used to love the reviews for this site but the last few years have been a hyperbolic mess. Last year's positive GI Joe review really nailed the coffin shut for me reading reviews here.
I caught Get Him to the Greek last night instead. I'll catch Splice next weekend.
This film does not represent good cinema just because of it's ridiculous ending. Seriously. The end negates the whole thing but if that's your kind of thing, then that's your kind of thing. I would hope Devin, that you would have saved this article for Scott Pilgrim because we need more films like Scott Pilgrim and less films like this one.
I know you are a horrournut but horrour can never reach as many people as Scott Pilgrim can but you blew your load over this flick. Which is a shame but that's life, that's you, and that's CHUD.
Seen it yesterday! I drove to a nearby city that was playing it as mine wasn't. I HAVE sent studious e-mail's before about not liking to drive to another city, and we now have a new theater here with the state of the art 3D Christie Projector etc. and yet they STILL didn't play it here so I was kinda pissed, but I had to show my support. It was filmed here in my province and all the reviews I have read have been great.. this is now one of my fav movies!
I can definitely say that "Splice" is not like any other movie to have come out in the last few years. And director Natali certainly has visual style. That being said, the acting was pretty atrocious all-around, the creature design was laughable, and the last act was truly over-the-top and ridiculous. The audience was literally laughing throughout. I really hope that we see more "original" movies in the future instead of just big-studio, cookie-cutter blockbusters, but I really hope that they are nothing like this awful piece of garbage.
This truly is a horrible summer for movies. So far I have only gone to see Kickass and Ironman since January. I fully support what you are trying to do here Devin, for once I say keep it up. Though you would think that District9 made this point last summer, this is the type of point that needs to be made again and again or we get crap like Knight and Day and the A-team at the Multiplex.
I just got out of seeing this a few hours ago. No one in the theater could take it seriously, which, let's be honest, isn't that unbelievable. Out of the people I spoke with, no one could say that the effects were bad. The way they made it jump around the room when it first came out of the cocoon thing was spectacular. Original plot, yes, but cult classic in the future, I think not. I also think they tried too hard to make Adrian Brody's character look like a "weirdo." All the "emoish" patches on his lab coat just made him look awkward. Glad I saw it, but I don't think it's worth a second viewing.
Fact is, these days a movie theater is the worst place on earth to see a movie unless you enjoy the constant din of talking and cellphone use during your films. Unless you're taking your kid to a Pixar movie (where it's understood that little kids will be chattering away) theaters just suck.
I bet I'm the only one who saw Splice, Get Him to The Greek and Killers this weekend and I can honestly say I enjoyed all of them for different reasons. Killers is going to get a lot of shit from people who didn't see it. In fact, one of the reasons I'm writing is because all the attention Splice will get on this site (one I love BTW), but Killers will be endlessly knocked by people who didn't give a shot. The action is thrilling and better-shot than a lot of other "action" pictures of late. Splice did rule, though.
Ok. Ok. I'll go see Splice. GOSH!
I saw splice last night, and yeah I have to agree that it was sure different…but my god was it boring. Anyone play spore the video game and get a strong sense that you were watching it? Also I have a theory…there going to pay her all this money to give birth to that kid but in all truth it was just Adrian Brody's! I mean…he hit it first.
Is this the movie to champion? Devin, after seeing the film on your strong recommendation, I'd be interested in getting your fuller take on it. I was left wondering what it was all about, what is was all for, what questions it raised or was interested in tackling, because I was left with the distinct feeling of having just watched a dud of a movie with a couple of really nice sequences intermixed.
Well said….went to see this last night and enjoyed it. Creepy, sinister but more importantly interesting and different. Unfortunately its box office performance was mediocre. Sad really, especially when I go to work and have to hear from all the cretins who went to see Sex in the City 2. I just don't get it.
Why does NO review mention the completely gratuitous rape in this movie? Is it just a staple of horrific sci-fi now? If the creature is associated at all with a woman, the woman will end up being sexually abused by it and potentially carrying it's offspring? At least in ALIEN the alien did it to men, too. Die in a fire.
Comments are shown as archived from the original site; new comments are closed.