DNA experiment fails to provide breakthrough

Despite years of scientific advancement and technological breakthroughs, many secrets of the human body continue to elude us.

We’re no closer to discovering a cure for cancer and other terminal diseases, and changes to our environment seem to be precipitating new viruses.

Many people are pinning all of their hopes on genetic engineers and their experiments with human DNA, but there are many ethical questions raised by such science.

Director Vicenzo Natali considers the horrific consequences of mankind’s meddling in his stylish thriller, co-written by Antoinette Terry Bryant and Doug Taylor.

A strong opening hour, with biblical overtones and echoes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, leads to a lacklustre finale that will be disappointingly familiar to fans of low-budget monster movies.

Splice opens with a birthing sequence from the point of view of a newborn, emerging from its mother’s womb.

The umbilical cord is cut and doctors Clive Nicoli (Brody) and Elsa Kast (Polley) stare down proudly at the new delivery.

“He’s perfect. No physical discrepancies,” coos Clive, and suddenly we’re aware that the infant in the crib isn’t human.

Indeed, Clive and Elsa have been splicing DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids, whose complex genetic structure could provide numerous medical breakthroughs.

The next logical step is to introduce human DNA, but medical ethics forbid it.

However, the couple risk their careers by creating a human animal hybrid, which they christen Dren.

The young creature (Chu) lives in the lab, where Clive’s brother Gavin (McGibbon) discovers the abomination and agrees to keep quiet and not alert their boss.

However, as Dren matures (now played by Chaneac), she outgrows her makeshift home and Elsa moves her to the barn of her childhood home, where the hybrid’s burgeoning sexuality causes unexpected problems.

Splice is visually-arresting and Natali employs a palette of cold, clinical blues and greys in the laboratory, where the scientists create a surrogate daughter who will turn out to be their worst nightmare.

The script heavily signposts the bloodshed of the final 30 minutes and when one of the characters asks, “What’s the worst that could happen?”, we’re certain that the most gruesome carnage is still to come.

Polley convinces as a young woman haunted by the past, whose desire to become a mother blinds her to the repercussions of her actions.

Brody has the more difficult role as the naysayer, whose fascination with Dren gets him into a very sticky and unintentionally hilarious mess.