Vincenzo Natali succeeds in producing a thought provoking sci-fi horror, but by the final act the film looses its way. A fusion of a creature feature and a body horror, Splice is at its best when it revels in its moral ambiguity. It's a film about the perils that come with messing with nature, but also a film full of gender politics and the downside of human impulses. Once it becomes a "monster on the rampage" film in the third act, it just lacks the impact that the previous acts had.
The cast are solid and Brody, Polley and Chanéac make a most interesting dysfunctional family. Natali's focus on these broken characters really elevates the narrative.
The only real negative to Natali's film is that it hasn't really got a visual identity. This isn't to say that he himself hasn't crafted a good looking picture, it is just that the film seems to rely heavily on Dren as the main visual gimmick. This is understandable, but it is a shame as Natali has shown to great effect that he can direct a unique picture with a keen eye for detail, framing and rising tension. Here it seems that his mark on the film is invisible as the direction and visuals are reminiscent of a dozen instalments of the genre.
However it is still a film worth watching due to its intelligent script and emotive characters. Not perfect, but interesting.