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How Splice Nearly Got Me Banned From My Local Theater

posted 15 years ago by flish553
286 replies | jump to latest

I don't want to ruin this movie for anyone, so if you haven't seen it, please don't read any further.

Alright, let's start with the previews. When previews for Splice hit the airwaves, it was promoted as a sci-fi/horror film about scientists who create a new life form, which the clever writers called "science's newest miracle (is) a mistake." After seeing a handful of trailers, I must admit I was intrigued. Maybe this was going to be like Species with more of a plot or character development to it. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
The actors aside (both of whom I adored in other films, Polley in the Dawn of the Dead remake and Brody as the mentally handicapped guy in The Village), I felt a bit awkward when Dren watched the two protagonists have sex on a filthy labratory couch. Then I had trouble getting past the weird feeling in my gut when Adrian Brodie taught Dren how to dance and she was OBVIOUSLY attracted to him. Also, when his dumb-ass decided it was alright to have sex with this creature (not a clone of his girlfriend, a mixture of animals and humans, so a THING), I had to fight the urge to get up and leave the theater. And finally, during the last twenty minutes of the film, when Dren becomes a male and visciously rapes Sarah Polley's character, I decided I wanted my money back.

As I said, I do not blame any of the actors for this movie's faults. I'd just like to know who the hell saw this schlock-fest and thought it was a decent film. I also read something about the DVD release should have alternate endings. Like what? Dren turns back into a female and rapes Andrien Brody? Come on, how on Earth could anyone want to see this disturbing film again?
After it was FINALLY over (and my girlfriend was nearly sick from the rape scene), we headed for the nearby exit. I couldn't stand the feeling I had in my stomach about what I'd just seen and felt I had to say something. I found one of the girls working the concession stand and politely asked her to locate the manager for me. After a minute, a large man in a nice suit walked up and shook my hand, introducing himself as the manager. I explained to him that I did not enjoy the film but I was not going to demand a refund. I simply wanted to know how the hell this movie got the semi-decent ratings it did and how he felt about it? Apparently I said something wrong because the big guy in the nice suit turned bright red and said, "If you'd rather not come back to this theater, you can continue talking about this movie. Otherwise, please refrain from libling a decent film."
By the way, lible is printed, slander is spoken. Dumb-ass.

Basically, I'd just like to know what happened to the science-fiction (or in this case, somewhat science-fact) movies that used to frightening yet not sickening. Something has gone seriously wrong with our mentality as a nation if we feel it's alright to make movies about creating life, then killing it, then getting raped by it, then killing it again. What does anyone learn from watching this kind of movie?
How NOT to make a movie.

[–] ElectricKoolaidAcid 13 years ago

I agree the movie lacked standard logic overall; I personally thought Brody and Polley were at their worst in this film too... and it did have some sexually and ethically offensive parts that did not coincide well compared with other "Sci-Fi/DNA experimental" classics of the same genre like The Fly, Frankenstein, Eraserhead (j/k) and such....

BUT COMPLAINING TO THE MANGER OF A MOVIE THEATER IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO SATISFY YOUR OVERALL HATRED WITH *ANY* FILM. You're best off writing to the producers/directors/screenplay authors, or just becoming a "film critic" yourself- whether as an unpaid blogger or very rarely lucky enough to make it your own actual profession.

[–] diegoavilarodriguez 13 years ago

i think the point was to make people feel disgusted, 10 years from now, when rape becomes common in horror films (which lately it actually is becoming) people will stop feeling disgusted by it. Remember the exorcist? made people throw up, faint, etc. what happened after that? horror movies started becoming edgier, grosser, and bloodier (slashers films helped with that) if you were sickened by the film, that´s because they wanted you to feel that way, i mean its not like the rape scene was frightening in any way.

[–] EmmaPopell 13 years ago

This Film made me Fear Rogue Scientists.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] gljbradley 13 years ago

Yep.

[–] irvinfx 13 years ago

The fact is simply this. "Art Is Not Safe !"
And rightfully so !

Tom Irvin
Silver Lake,CA.
[email protected]

[–] travcm 13 years ago

I find your request for your money back more disturbing than the movie was. It's a sci-fi movie that has sex scenes (one involving rape). So what? Because you're too immature to handle that you think you're entitled to a refund? You must be very cheap, self-entitled, and I highly doubt that gf of yours is still around.

Btw, this is not even close to "science-fact". Dumb-ass.

[–] shonoffilm 13 years ago

To the OP, I don't understand your reasoning behind asking for the manager if you weren't going to demand a refund. It seemed like you simply wanted to complain about the moral value of the movie. What does the manager have to do with the way the movie was written and filmed? If I were the manager I would feel this customer is wasting my time and I have more important things to do like manage a business. That manager probably wasn't the manager that ordered the films and the manager that does depending on the type of theater you were at (mom/pop or chain) didn't have much choice in the matter. I get that you were disgusted by the film, but by trying to start a dialog (more like argument) with the manager, really? You should have simply demanded a refund because you didn't want to financially support a film that you found sickening. Don't waste a managers time by talking about how the movie sucked.

[–] gljbradley 13 years ago

Agreed, travcm and shono. This movie isn't for EVERYBODY. Some people may find this film disgusting and uncomfortable to watch, and that's okay. If it's not their cup of tea, they don't have to watch it. But to make a huge fuss over it to the movie theater managers is rather extreme.

[–] slimypants 13 years ago

So you went to see a movie that you already knew was a horror film and you were shocked to find it contained scenes you found unsettling? You do understand what horror is don't you?

Perhaps you should stick with the Twilight films and leave the real horror to the grown ups?

[–] PastichioRocker 13 years ago

You went to complain to the manager about a horror movie? That's like filing a complaint at the porn theatre because there's too much skin shown... Don't go to horror movies if you can't handle them, you moron.

[–] allrealityisvirtual 13 years ago

I'm shocked and appalled! My girlfriend and I saw something we didn't like so we complained. I achieved my goal of opening my mouth, but alas - this somehow couldn't make up for the affront to my sensibilities.

This loss of face (and nookie) made a tour of my head for hours until "Eureka!" I found a solution - complain to a greater audience! By now I had played the incident over enough times to absolve myself of any possible wrong-doing, so all that was left to do was type it up and post it.

Viola! In no time my complaint had reached enough people to cause twenty pages of responses. Sure, most of the responses were complaints about my original complaint, but at least I gave *someone* a piece of my mind.

I just want to feel like I matter.

[–] vlad-b-sch 13 years ago

i never thought i could see (aka, read) in real a genuine exemplar of the stupid american. you should be framed. art work of america's dumbness.
.. ah well, the theater manager was kinda polite, coz you are stupid, ignorant and as sick as you think this movie is. You are a grown up man, and you are as sensitive as a conservative old granny. Btw, movies are art, not history books or moralist tales, man... you are really as creepy as Dren... lol