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These Hybrid Moments

By TK | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (15)

splicemoviestill.jpg

There are a number of interesting-looking horror and sci-fi flicks on the horizon, but one of the quieter ones that I’m most interested in is director Vincenzo Natali’s (Cube) Splice. Produced by Guillermo Del Toro, it was finished last year, floated around for a while looking for a distributor, and is now finally coming to theaters on June 4th. That date is pretty surprising, given that it’s smack in the middle of tentpole season. Here’s a bit o’ plot for you, courtesy of Slashfilm:

Elsa (Sarah Polley) and Clive (Adrien Brody) are a brilliant couple, biochemists who have figured out how to successfully combine different forms of animal DNA into a single creature. Their breakthroughs have many implications for the fields of science and health, but they have yet to crack the final frontier: an animal-human hybrid. When their superiors threaten to shut down their engineering project and put a stop to any further innovations, Elsa and Ed decide to take matters into their own hands.

It’s got a few things going for it: An interesting premise, that, while vaguely similar, doesn’t look nearly as moronic as Species. A spectacular cast — Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley are the leads. That’s a pretty impressive duo. I dig the indie vibe it gives off, and if anyone’s seen Cube, you know Natali can do weird damn well. I love the general feel of it, although the trailer may be playing up the suspense! and shock! parts of it — I’m hoping it’ll be a little more intelligent than the average film of its ilk, and not just blood and jump scares.

It sounds like SyFy-level crap. It looks like it could be amazing. Check the first full trailer:

(Trailer courtesy of Bloody Disgusting)









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Comments

I have not yet lost my feeling of anticipation for this movie--I still really want to see it, for Sarah Polley if for nothing else.

Posted by: Jerce at April 3, 2010 12:45 PM

I loved Cube, and this looks like it could be equally awesome, especially with Polley and Brody in the leads. Natali is also working on an adaptation of J.G. Ballard's High Rise which I'm all manner of excited about.

Posted by: Groundloop at April 3, 2010 1:30 PM

I'm all a-quiver. June 4th is so far away!!!

Posted by: MM at April 3, 2010 2:34 PM

If Cube was any indication, as long as they stay away from math, it should be alright.

This looks good. I hope they keep the preaching to a minimum. Show, don't tell.

Posted by: The Wandering Parakeet at April 3, 2010 3:13 PM

I'm afraid it looks pretty trite to me. Half the scenes look to be straight out of Alien.

If you're going to do something with human/animal gene splicing (which I agree is a great premise), do something subtle. Have the result look human, but have odd tendencies or abilities, revealed slowly throughout the film.

Or have the result look like an animal, with human intelligence.

Posted by: greg at April 3, 2010 3:35 PM

@ Greg: "Or have the result look like an animal, with human intelligence."

THAT is a movie that would seriously freak me out and one that I would watch AND have me entirely under the covers at night because you just DON'T KNOW...(bedcovers are magic)

I hope some film-maker or author writes it!

Posted by: d at April 3, 2010 5:43 PM

"...but they have yet to crack the final frontier: an animal-human hybrid."

Uh, as in "Human Centipede?" Hate to tell them, it's been done.

Posted by: UncleJR at April 3, 2010 5:58 PM

,,It's alive!'' - A classic already.

Posted by: B.Kaiser at April 3, 2010 6:03 PM

Is the splicee played by Bjork? Cause that totally looks like her in the header pic.

Posted by: ang at April 3, 2010 8:08 PM

Why is it whenever a group of scientists decides to start splicing people and animals together, they start with something with claws or a stinger?

Why can't they just start with like, a rabbit, or a squirrel or something. Worst thing there is that you end up with a costly produce bill.

Posted by: MrWonkles at April 3, 2010 8:23 PM

Exactly, MrWonkles. Why don't they go the cuddly route first? Of course, you could argue that man is a dangerous creature, and there's no guarantee that a man/bunny wouldn't be vicious.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at April 3, 2010 9:55 PM

I'd be more interested in this film if the latter half of the trailer hadn't given me an epileptic seizure.

Posted by: Jelinas at April 3, 2010 11:52 PM

On June 4...Robert will be seeing this movie.

It looks very good. I trust Vincenzo Natali based on Cube. His segment in Paris, je t'aime is very good, as well. The cast is strong (Brody was excellent in The Jacket even if it was a mediocre sci-fi/thriller and Polley's done solid work in mediocre to good sci-fi/horror/thrillers, too). The effects look convincing but not overdone.

My one complaint: it's blue. Please, horror/sci-fi directors, experiment with other gels and filters. I'm horrified that when Husk gets released in theaters, the film will magically go from convincing natural colors requiring minor tweeks from the test screening to turquise cornstalks and dull green feed sacks. I was convinced I Know Who Killed Me effectively destroyed blue filters for horror/thriller/sci-fi's, but I was wrong.

Posted by: Robert at April 4, 2010 10:46 AM

Scary bunny? Didn't Monty Python do that?

Posted by: d at April 4, 2010 4:18 PM

Is that picture from Easter dinner at the Spears residence? That is some freaky shit that I did not need to see.

Posted by: schrome at April 4, 2010 9:48 PM