Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Splinter

Genre - Horror
Year Released - 2008
Running Time - 82 minutes
Directed by Toby Wilkins
Written by Toby Wilkins, Kai Barry, and Ian Shorr
Cast Includes:
Jill Wagner (Blade: The Series)
Paulo Costenzo (40 Days and 40 Nights)
Shea Whigham (Tigerland)
Rachel Kerbs


Rating: 5 Skulls


Plot Summary:
Kidnapped by an escaped convict and his young accomplice, Seth Belzer and Polly Watt are thrust into the fight of their lives when the four of them become the prey of a bloodthirsty splinter parasite.

Trapped inside an abandoned gas station, the foursome is forced to band together to thwart the monster's vicious attacks and make it out alive.


Review:
Finally, a film that has lived up to its hype! [If you are already familiar with this film, then everything that you have already heard about it is absolutely true! This movie rocks!!

The film starts off at a gas station, where the attendant is suddenly attacked by what looks like some sort of bizarre animal. . .

Jump to Seth & Polly, a couple setting up their campsite so that they can have "anniversary sex under the stars". After Seth breaks one of the tent poles, the couple decides to head to a motel, unaware that just down the road an escaped convict [Farell] and his girlfriend [Lacey - who is in the midst of withdrawals] have just dumped their truck and belongings. . .

When Seth and Polly cross paths with Farell & Lacey, Farell hijacks their vehicle. Forcing Polly to drive, she then runs over 'something' [the animal/attacker from the beginning of the film] and blows a tire. While changing the tire, Farell gets a splinter in his finger from whatever it was that punctured the tire. Once again back on the road, the four then have engine trouble, which places them at the above mentioned gas station. . .

That is all you're going to get from me on this one - just buy this film [it is well worth it, especially since it has a ton of special features!]


I really liked Jill Wagner and Paulo Costenzo [Polly & Seth] in this one. I thought that they had great chemistry together. I also liked the fact that Polly was written as such a strong-willed/independent woman [reminded me of my wife]

As for Toby Wilkins - I will definitely be keeping my eye on this guy!

Here's the trailer:


Jason

8 comments:

Johnny 666 said...

Great review! I have been eager to check this one out since I read about it several months ago. The monster genre is probably my favorite...it just seems we don't get enough of them these days. I have this on pre-order this week! Will do a review when I watch it.

The Igloo Keeper said...

Agreed. Splinter is a great, solidly made creature feature. Good acting, decent make-up, and a crawling hand. That's all I ask for.

Wings1295 said...

Finally! A movie I have seen!

This was good. Seeing it was showing on the SciFi Channel, I assumed it was of the C/D grade stuff they usually play.

It is NOTHING like their usual stuff. This was great, scary and unsettling. A good monster movie.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with everything you have written here - and I love your screenshots! They made me laugh aloud, just like I did (with glee) watching the movie way back when.

I have a question - why is this seemingly only making the rounds now? (I saw it get reviewed - favorably, I might add - on At the Movies this week). I watched it on dvd months and months ago. Strange.

the jaded viewer said...

I put Splinter #9 on my Top 10 Horror Movies of 2008Maybe I should have put it higher.

To make a creepy crawly monster movie is quite an undertaking in this day and age and to do it well…well thats almost impossible.

Hopefully Toby Wilkins stays genre grounded and makes more of these horror indie gems.

thebonebreaker said...

Johnny, I agree - we don't get enough creature features now-a-days :-(
I will be looking forward to your thoughts on the film!


IK, I hear ya! :-)


Wings, hahahahaha - yes, I had forgotten that they actually premiered it on the Sci-Fi Channel [what, a month ago?]
I chose not to watch it, as I hate watching movies with commercials, not to mention that I am sure some of it was cut.
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!


Gore-Gore Girl, I am glad that you agree and that you enjoyed the pics ;-)
To my knowledge, the DVD was officially released, just today...


JV, Splinter is well deserved in a top-ten list, and yes, I do hope that Wilkins gives us more of the same!


Thank you all for the comments!

J

the sneering (homo-phobic) snob said...

like the gore-gore girl i saw this months ago on a pirate DVD and thought it was magnificent, and the picture quality was superb to.

thebonebreaker said...

Snob,

Glad to hear that you agree! :-)

J