Splice

Released June 4, 2010
Directed by Vincenzo Natali
Starring: Adrian Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac

First viewing June 15, 2010
Jolly: 3.5/5 stars

“What’s the worst that could happen?” That’s the question geneticists Clive Nicoli (Brody) and Elsa Kast (Polley) ask themselves when they push the boundaries of ethics and science. It is a common conundrum that is addressed in a realistic and considerate way. The story develops so that it is believable when this couple crosses boundaries that would normally be considered as not only wrong, but dangerous. There are financial, moral, and scientific reasons for their actions and by the end of the movie it is difficult to tell right from wrong.

Clive and Elsa are specialists in splicing DNA from multiple organisms to create new species. The purpose is to biologically synthesize new proteins for their employer, NERD, but it is their passion to create new life that drives their science. Their most successful creations, Fred and Ginger, showed promise that splicing could be taken to the next step with human DNA, but the head of their lab wanted to shut the entire program down and focus on basic protein synthesis. With the motivation to prove themselves right, Clive and Elsa secretly attempt to splice with human DNA. The problem is that when they are successful Elsa goes one step further and creates the embryo.

Their secret experiment goes on longer than Clive is comfortable with, and sooner than anticipated the creature is “born”. Again, it is Elsa who persists with allowing the creature to develop whereas Clive would rather it be killed. Due to compounds used in the splicing, the creature ages rapidly thus providing a scientific attraction of documenting its full life in a short amount of time. In Elsa’s nurturing of the creature, it becomes clear that this is more than a scientific experiment. Furthermore, there are suggestions of instability in Elsa’s childhood, possibly due to a mentally ill mother, that might compromise the experiment entirely.

This movie leads up to the inevitable moment of realization that a monster has been created. However, even after this occurs there is still a scientific and financial argument that rises above morality and continues with humans’ obsession to control life. Although, and not to spoil the ending, this final showing of science may all be a façade with true, basic conception of life winning over genetic engineering (open to interpretation).

Clever casting, clever writing, and great special effects made this a good movie. I would describe it as Frankenstein meets WALL-E. It is about defying the laws of nature and defining the boundaries of science while nurturing the human spirit to reach new frontiers.