Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2011

Splice: ©2009 GAUMONT - SPLICE (COPPERHEART) PRODUCTIONS INC

In this almost serious approach to the ethical questions raised by corporate-funded gene-splicing, a pair of brilliant but impatient bio-engineers (Sarah Polley and Adrien Brody) illegally mix a little human DNA with that of several animals, and produce a rapidly maturing, vaguely humanoid, not-quite-cute thingy that they come to look upon as a daughter (not easy to do, what with the chicken legs, tail, gills and wings). Horror fans may dig this well-made, somewhat Cronenbergian film by Vincenzo Natali (Cube) for not being derivative, but the high “ick” factor prevented me from quite getting behind it.