Oh how great it is to FINALLY see something that’s not just another version of something else!
Splinter (2008)
Directed By: Toby Wilkins (The Grudge 3)
The Prologue
You know I was very lucky to get my hands on this DVD. Sure I had heard of it, and I was interested in seeing it but for a number of reasons I just never got the chance to finally check it out..Then I entered a contest over at ObscureHorror.com. I enter these contests a lot, I never win, but I usually enter anyway but low and behold..I WON! (Score one for the good guys!)
A few short days later the DVD arrives and here we are. Big thanks to ObscureHorror.com, If any of you haven’t been there by all means check it out.
Now getting back on track with the movie, “Splinter” received many praise in the horror community when it came out. It was even on FEARnet a day before it hit the big screen or even DVD. So after seeing it for myself was as all this praise just typical over hype??..No, not at all.
The Movie
IMDB states the plot of “Splinter” as…”Trapped in an isolated gas station by a voracious Splinter parasite that transforms its still living victims into deadly hosts, a young couple and an escaped convict must find a way to work together to survive.” And you know what folks? It’s a movie that for once isn’t just like everything else we see coming out now days.
It’s got all the elements of a Zombie film mixed with your usual virus outbreak stuff but it keeps it all together on a much smaller contained and intimate level and it works really well. You won’t find just a cast of pretty faces that are just there for T and A, you won’t find big names in there just for name value. You get lesser known actors who can ya know?..ACT. That plus the originality of the story will keep you tuned in from start to finish. It also shows that you don’t need to make a big production to make a good movie..you don’t need tons of people walking around or extras. This movie keeps it simple, and simple really is better at times..as seen here.
Forget the horrible CGI you get all over the place in other horror films these days, this film for much more than not, uses old school gore effects and that always, ALWAYS makes things look that much more realistic. Sure you get CGI here and there I’m sure, but it’s not obviously CGI when you see it. Which means it’s the less of the evil that is (in my opinion) the whole CGI concept. Just look at all the old school horror movies with memorable gore..none used CGI. And this one is a throwback in a way due to the fact it knows how to use the classic style of special effects. I could go on forever about just what a breath of fresh air it is to see this type stuff but I’ll just wrap it up by stating this movie has some cringe worthy moments and I loved it!
The last time I recall seeing a horror film that made me as impressed in what I was seeing was “Feast” and I just hope this one doesn’t follow the same path as “Feast” by putting out crappy sequels that seems to somewhat diminish the memory of the original, but for now “Splinter” gets a big round of applause from me..and that’s something that can be rather hard to get.
The Conclusion
I may be rating this movie a bit higher than most but that’s due to the fact that when I watched it, it wasn’t just the same ol’ same ol’ you always see now days. In a day of reboots and remakes it’s great to get an original thought every once and awhile.
This film won many awards at film festivals and I can see why. So if you haven’t seen “Splinter” do yourself a favor and do so!
The Rating (8/10)
Chucks website
