A young couple retreats to the wilderness for a romantic camping weekend, but their idyll is shattered when they are car-jacked by an escaped convict and his girlfriend on the run from the police. As the foursome travel the back roads together, each plotting their next move, they find themselves facing a blood-crazed, parasitic creature. Finding shelter at an abandoned gas station, they must use their wits and every weapon at their disposal to stave off the onslaught, not only from the insatiable creature, but also each other....
It's great to see an original monster movie. It's even better to see an original monster movie that contains intelligence and wit. But what's best of all is to see an original monster movie that contains intelligence and wit that uses horror conventions to its advantage to entertain the audience. SPLINTER doesn't want to be a groundbreaking horror film. However, it doesn't want to be a forgettable trashy entertainment either. It just wants to be right in the middle and you know what? The movie works.
This film has the upper hand in startling the audience because the creature (or monster) in this film is original, although similar to the creatures in THE RUINS. It's like seeing the movie ALIEN for the first time. We know it's a creature that kills, but we don't know how it does it and how it acts until the end of the film. This is like watching ALIEN for the first time but with a different creature. It's a good thing because the creature in this flick is so ingenious and great that you go "oooooh" and "ahhhhhh," but at the same time, "What is that thing?"
And part of the reason why this film is good is because of this creature. Although a very low budget film, the visual effects are efficient enough and not cartoonish to take you out of the movie. However, as sad as this may sound, you will never see the creature in full detail by the end of the film. You just see glimpses of it. Maybe it's due to the low budget or maybe "the less you see, the scarier it is." I wouldn't know but what I do know is that it was good enough for me.
The characters in this film are also very, very (very) smart. You haven't seen characters this smart since P2. The film is like a cat-and-mouse movie, although you don't get to see the vantage point of the cat. The performances by the four leads are good enough, although not anything too astounding. And with a running time of just 82 minutes, the film fortunately doesn't drag at all. The film has a steady pace.
As Toby Wilkins' directorial debut, this film is a great start. As a monster movie, it's above average because of the ingenious idea of the creature itself, which gives the film an admirable quality. It's apparent the filmmakers have thought a lot about an original creature. Overall, with decent performances by the cast, along with some violent and disgusting scenes, and scenes that, literally, get under your skin, this is all you ever wanted in a low budget monster movie. You should see this movie if you have a chance. With 82 minutes, what can you possibly lose (other than 82 minutes)?
It's great to see an original monster movie. It's even better to see an original monster movie that contains intelligence and wit. But what's best of all is to see an original monster movie that contains intelligence and wit that uses horror conventions to its advantage to entertain the audience. SPLINTER doesn't want to be a groundbreaking horror film. However, it doesn't want to be a forgettable trashy entertainment either. It just wants to be right in the middle and you know what? The movie works.
This film has the upper hand in startling the audience because the creature (or monster) in this film is original, although similar to the creatures in THE RUINS. It's like seeing the movie ALIEN for the first time. We know it's a creature that kills, but we don't know how it does it and how it acts until the end of the film. This is like watching ALIEN for the first time but with a different creature. It's a good thing because the creature in this flick is so ingenious and great that you go "oooooh" and "ahhhhhh," but at the same time, "What is that thing?"
And part of the reason why this film is good is because of this creature. Although a very low budget film, the visual effects are efficient enough and not cartoonish to take you out of the movie. However, as sad as this may sound, you will never see the creature in full detail by the end of the film. You just see glimpses of it. Maybe it's due to the low budget or maybe "the less you see, the scarier it is." I wouldn't know but what I do know is that it was good enough for me.
The characters in this film are also very, very (very) smart. You haven't seen characters this smart since P2. The film is like a cat-and-mouse movie, although you don't get to see the vantage point of the cat. The performances by the four leads are good enough, although not anything too astounding. And with a running time of just 82 minutes, the film fortunately doesn't drag at all. The film has a steady pace.
As Toby Wilkins' directorial debut, this film is a great start. As a monster movie, it's above average because of the ingenious idea of the creature itself, which gives the film an admirable quality. It's apparent the filmmakers have thought a lot about an original creature. Overall, with decent performances by the cast, along with some violent and disgusting scenes, and scenes that, literally, get under your skin, this is all you ever wanted in a low budget monster movie. You should see this movie if you have a chance. With 82 minutes, what can you possibly lose (other than 82 minutes)?