This article contains some discussion of sexual assault.
Although 2009 was a brilliant year for horror movies,Splicefell short of success.Splicefollows the story of a young scientific couple,The Pianist’sAdrien Brody andDawn of the Dead’sSarah Polley, in their attempt to splice animal genes with human DNA. The resulting human-animal hybrid is creepy due to its mostly human features, establishing an uncanny effect that made thehorror movie quite terrifying.Splicewas written and directed by Vincenzo Natali, who has since directed episodes of other sci-fi and horror genre TV series, such asHannibal,Westworld,andAmerican Gods.
Spliceis a film that generates the perfectblend of sci-fi and horror, and was highly praised upon its release. Yet, grossing only $27 million at the box office against its $30 million budget,Splicewas amonster movie box office flop.Splicehas since developed into a bit of a cult classic among horror fansdue to its themes of body horror, examination of genetic engineering, and critique of the ideal state, in a similar vein to 2024’sThe Substance.However,Splicehas also met a lot of controversy due to its graphic content, which affected its chances of being a hit.
Splice Wasn’t A Box Office Hit, But Deserved To Be
Splice Was Praised By Critics For Its Themes
Earning $3 million less at the box office than its budget,Splicewas not a commercial success. The sci-fi horror has a rather poor 37% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes, showing that it was not that popular among audiences. On the other hand,Spliceis actually Certified Fresh and has a 75% Tomatometer,demonstrating a mainly positive response from critics, who praised the acting and the movie’s smart premise. Interestingly, the film’s disturbing nature, especially inSplice’sdramatic ending, turned viewers away for the same reasons that critics praised, as the movie sets out to make you uncomfortable from the start.
Splice’s Nature Vs. Nurture Debate: Did Dren Ever Have a Chance?
It’s worth considering if Splice’s Dren could have had a normal life with the right care or if her killer instinct would always get the best of her.
As Dren, the hybrid, navigates their limited life with their ambitious parents,Splicemakes viewers question the ethics of practices that are not that far-fetched. Genetic engineering has been studied for decades, and the movie is a direct discussion of this practice. WhileSplicecould’ve leaned into its premise further, the overall movie delivered a disturbing and alternative take, aiming to shock audiences into its message.Splicedeserved more praise – especially with movies likeThe Substancemaking their mark in 2024. Yet, thesci-fi horror movie is underratedsinceSpliceflopped at the box office.
Why Splice Wasn’t More Successful Upon Release In 2009
Splice Was Too Grisly But Was Also Overshadowed
Splicewasn’t successful in 2009 because its twisted story was too shocking to appeal to a mainstream audience. Unsurprisingly, Clive having sex with Dren, andElsa being sexually assaulted by her own genetically engineered child, put many off watchingSpliceand caused some controversy upon the movie’s release.Splice’sVincenzo Natali discussed the movie’s legacyin a 2024 interview, saying that Adrien Brody’s character having sex with Dren “was a deal breaker for a lot of people,” but it was “the raison d’etre of the movie to me.” Check out his full statement below:
Primarily, it was the fact Adrien Brody’s character has sex with the creature. That was a deal breaker for a lot of people. It was in the contract that the scene could not be cut because I was so fearful that it would be, even after it was finished. It was the raison d’etre of the movie to me; not just because it’s sensational but because I felt like if we’re going to tell a 21st-century retelling of Frankenstein, we need to push it into the 21st century. This was a story about life and birth — and sex was always going to be part of that equation. To dance around it would’ve been cowardly.
Furthermore,Splicemay have also been overshadowed by the countless other horror movies which were released in the same year.2009 saw the return of Jason Voorhees in theFriday the 13thremake, and the release ofThe Human Centipede,Saw VI,The Final Destination,Jennifer’s Body,Paranormal Activity, andZombieland. With so much competition at the box office, especially films from an established franchise, it is no surprise thatSplicedidn’t perform as well as it could’ve. Due to its failure,Splice’sproposed sequel did not happen, and so,Spliceremains a solo underrated cult horror movie.
Splice
Cast
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Splice stars Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley as a young scientist couple who, after introducing human DNA into their work with genetic splicing, create a human-animal hybrid being called Dren, who becomes like the couple’s child. Initially positive that they can raise Dren as their daughter, the couple soon finds out that Dren’s nature is far more sinister than it seems.
