GYAAAAAH.

[apocalypsos]

OMG YOU GUYS WTF IS WRONG WITH SPLICE.

NO, TRUST ME, YOU WANT TO BE SPOILED. NO, I CAN'T TAKE THE CAPS LOCK OFF. DUDE, WHAT THE SAUCY UNDILUTED HELL?!

EDIT: Oh, and that link is triggery like WHOA.

Comments

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry that people are having such a negative reaction to this movie because it's REALLY good and typical Vincenzo (if you're a fan of his movies, you know ahead of time he's going to give you this kind of complex, messed-up movie). My review of it goes up on Fandomania tomorrow and I honestly gave it 4 stars because it's one of his best (Cube is the only one that tops it).

What do you think causes the reaction?

[seferin.livejournal.com]

The events themselves, or the lack of warning? I checked it out before seeing it, and am glad I did, given what I read.

While I won't judge the film on it's merits, I do think it is triggering, and does not warn specifically about what happens.

Re: What do you think causes the reaction?

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

I am used to Vin's movies, as I've seen them and enjoyed them all, but sitting in the theatre even I was deeply uncomfortable in a number of scenes for Splice.

The studios are not marketing it as honestly as they could (probably because they'd lose their money if they marketed it for what it actually is). It took ten years for this movie to finally get funded and made, so Vin's not going to jump up and go "no, no, you're doing it wrong because this is actually about ___."

However, the marketing department or someone needs to make mention of his formerly directed/written movies because it is in that vein and I feel deeply sorry for anyone that goes blindly into this movie having no clue who Vin is (or Guillermo del Toro, because he's one of the producers).

Splice is not for everyone. It's not for a majority of the usual movie-going audience. But if you're a fan of Vin's works and you're aware that this goes further than anything he's ever done, then maybe you can handle it. Still, it's going to be hard.

Re: What do you think causes the reaction?

[gruyere.livejournal.com]

While I won't judge the film on it's merits, I do think it is triggering, and does not warn specifically about what happens.

IT'S A MOTHERFUCKING HORROR MOVIE.

Agreed, but

[seferin.livejournal.com]

there is horror, and there is horror.

There is Bram Stoker's Dracula or Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and then there is Saw or Last House on the Left.

There is a difference, in my opinion, between "conceptional" horror, and the acts which take place within this movie. I don't judge it, as I am not the target audience. As such, I claim the right to not wish to see it.

Re: Agreed, but

[gruyere.livejournal.com]

Which is fine--I don't like horror movies, either--but claiming that it should warn you in advance when that defeats the entire purpose of the genre is ridiculous.

The bioethics was fine

[seferin.livejournal.com]

The sex issues are what squicked me.

Re: The bioethics was fine

[gruyere.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that was the intent.

Re: Agreed, but

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

The thing is, horror movies (and movies in general) DO warn you in advance -- in the MPAA warnings. Here's Splice's:

Rated R for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language.

The MPAA also has warnings for rape and sexual violence, but neither were added to that listing. "Strong sexuality" is not the same thing to describe what's going on in the movie.

Re: Agreed, but

[budclare.livejournal.com]

The MPAA also has warnings for rape and sexual violence, but neither were added to that listing.

Maybe someone thought that's what sci-fi violence meant.

*headdesks*

Re: What do you think causes the reaction?

[agent-mimi.livejournal.com]

Right, but other disturbing horror films like "Cannibal Holocaust" or "Buio Omega" or about a million bajillion others I can think of weren't marketed as mainstream horror. This one has been, and that's the problem. It's not a matter of familiarity with Vincenzo's work or familiarity with the horror genre, it's all about this particular genre (some would say subgenre) of horror films.

Horror is huge. HUGE. You could be a U.S. horror fan and go your whole life never seeing anything disturbing in this kind of rape-incest way and not even really KNOWING about this type of horror film.

Re: What do you think causes the reaction?

[lots42.livejournal.com]

I'm reminded of some old black and white zombie comics I read. At first I was all 'Yay, zombies' and I knew some people would die. Because, yanno, zombies. But when a woman and an unfortunate sharp object are lovingly detailed in slo-mo, I went and found something else to read.

So, yeah.

It's all fun and games until it takes seventeen billion panels to put someone's eye out.

[pandorablu.livejournal.com]

I'll admit I'm never going to see this movie. Didn't want to see it from the previews, and now that I'm reading the reviews of what it's actually about, I'm REALLY never going to see it.

But I HAVE seen Cube, and knowing that it's by the same guy? Makes everything make a heck of a lot more sense, so thanks.

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

Just taking 3 random Vin movies:

Cube: Is very cerebral and makes a comment on society ("Society" being an outside entity that's bad and the audience is watching from afar)

Nothing: Is very fun and makes a comment on society ("Society" being an outside entity that's bad and the audience is watching from afar)

Splice: Is morally dangerous and make a comment on society ("Society" being an inside entity which the audience is a part of)

That's what makes you most uncomfortable in this film, you begin to go along with it. You begin to understand why they make those choices and go "okay, that's not so bad" but then you have outsider POVs (such as David Hewlett's character) going "wait, this is WRONG" and then you feel bad because you didn't realize it was wrong until you're too far down the path of darkness to make it right again.

[theliel.livejournal.com]

Which is generally IRL how you wind up with an atrocity.
Because while you're in the moment it all seems so clear and rational.
y'know, stuff happens, and we had to do some things. Unfortunate choices, but, what else could we do y'know?

Sounds like a squicky yet compelling study in groupthink.

[bunnymcfoo.livejournal.com]

Or, you know, the thing that would make me the most uncomfortable about Splice would be the RAPEDY RAPE RAPE RAPE.

As a survivor of sexual assault, I actually do check the MPAA guidelines for warnings of rape and sexual violence because they're triggery as all hell.

I don't think there's a goddamn thing on the face of the planet that could get me to "go along with it" or "begin to understand why (the characters) make those choices and go "okay, that's not so bad"" when you're talking about rape.

So you know what? Please take your patronization and use it to fuck yourself in your goddamn ear. :D

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

Wow, no one is patronizing you or saying anything against you and I'm sorry you had to resort to such language as I've had nothing but respectful conversations about this film to this point. There are much more complex issues in this film than the rape scene (agreed, that it is one of many that makes the audience uncomfortable and angry). You would be triggered by this film, as would others, but there are a number of different issues with this film that come together and create a number of reactions that I've seen so far. The rape is not the only one.

[wordweaverlynn.livejournal.com]

It sounds like it could be a very good movie that makes people think. However, it also sounds as if it's being marketed as just generic "oooh monster" horror. I can understand why people are upset; who wants to spend $10 for a ticket to a certain kind of experience and then discover that the movie is not what's advertised?

There's a strong underground vein of parent/child interaction in many horror movies. Frankenstein is, to some extent, about childbirth; so is Alien. Aliens is about the desire to protect one's offspring. There's also an element of incest in many horror movies and novels. This movie makes them explicit. I doubt if I'd go see it, but I'd actually be more likely to watch it than a slasher flick.

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

Uhhhhh

[xianghua.livejournal.com]

Just from that review I am wondering how on EARTH they've edited the version at the 'family friendly' drive in (they will show rated R but are fairly careful about it since the screens are you know, visible from the freeway and stuff.

[norabombay.livejournal.com]

OMG.

That is just Fucked Up.

On the other hand, there was 0% chance of my seeing it in the first place, as the older I get the squickier I get about film.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, makers of Splice, over? (Oh, and that director? Is being discussed to direct the movie of Neuromancer. Don't mind me, I'll just be over here rocking back and forth.)

[pandorablu.livejournal.com]

........ wha?

Even more reason to never ever EVVVVVER see that film, jfc on a pogo stick

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

Thank you very, very much for linking to that. From the trailers, this movie looked like it was right up my alley (part horror, part sci-fi, part cheese, yay!) but now that I know what's actually in it . . . noooo thank you.

[prettybird.livejournal.com]

Me too. I read the EW.com review and was all excited.

[prettybird.livejournal.com]

I left this in the review post too but...


That's my face right now.

[ralob.livejournal.com]

Same here. Just crossed this movie off my queue list.

[prettybird.livejournal.com]

We were gonna go see it tonight with my partner's parents and brother. So glad I saw this first.

[doqz.livejournal.com]

...ew.

How'd they con Brody into this?

[mindset]

What, Brody loves weird shit. Sarah Polley too.

@trollprincess: I was already warned this movie was full of rape and weird triggery stuff -- not that I had any intention of seeing in the first place, I don't do horror movies -- so seeing the ads made me bwah. At least my local reviewer, though he liked it, also warned it was not for everyone and went in a different direction than the "usual".

[doqz.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's true. Just surprised me - I assumed this was a higher-budget remake of Species, or something.

[aerynvala.livejournal.com]

That's precisely what I thought as well, re: Species.

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Never so glad to be spoilered.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

Wow. I really didn't want to see it to begin with - horror movies, especially of that type, are not for me. But now? Now I want to KILL IT WITH FIRE, OMG.

What the hell? Who thought this up? Who thought this was a GOOD IDEA???

[akacat]

Goddammit. I wanted to see it for the Hewlett.

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

He's in it ALOT and his character is the outsider POV, which serves a great purpose.

[kajivar]

...what?

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

Well I have no desire at all to see it, but kdotdammit has an interesting review.

[affectingly.livejournal.com]

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. I. I FEEL DIRTY HAVING JUST *READ* THAT. UUUGGGHHHH.

I mean, it's not a great loss for me as I don't like creature movies *anyway*, but that is just REALLY NOT OKAY AND NOOOOOO.

[callmesyd.livejournal.com]

I knew about the part where Adrien Brody had sex with the creature and that turned me off of seeing it because what the fuck.

I did NOT KNOW about the stinger-rape that comes afterwards.

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, Dren isn't Adrien Brody's 'daughter.' Dren has some of Sarah Polley's DNA but none of Brody's. He's not particularly paternal towards Dren either, though he does show some kindness towards her when Polley starts being mean to her. He also teaches Dren to dance, but more to break her out of her boring routine in the barn.

What Dren eventually does to Polley, yeah, fucked up. But also prepared for earlier in the film. Dren is part animal and that part wants to reproduce and Polley's the only female around. I guess I've seen too many Cronenberg films for this to bother me as much as it bothers others.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

See, I think my problem is that this movie and the one that they're advertising are two completely different movies. Like, it's one thing if they're advertising it as a comedy and it's really a serious drama -- that shit happens all the time -- but they're advertising this as an average everyday horror movie and it's ... a bit more.

I think I could handle it knowing about it now, but if I'd just gone based on the previews I would have left as soon as it started. Squicky, I can deal with. Squicky out of nowhere when I was just expecting some scares and gore? Yeah, not so much. The MPAA rating warns for "strong sexuality," but this is more than that.

And the DNA thing is still squicky. 'Cause, yeah, they don't share DNA, and he may not be paternal, but he's still basically her mom's boyfriend, and he's been around since she was an infant, which is still creepy. Also, there's the drowning thing, which ... okay, he's nice to her later, but he tried to drown her and the only thing that saved her was being able to breathe underwater.

[bnh.livejournal.com]

thank you so much for posting this.

[lunardreamed.livejournal.com]

I think what weirds me out the most is that the "mother" wants to start off treating her as her daughter, but then thinks she can just undo that and go back to her being an experiment. That's the bullshit thing, "whoops I changed my mind, you're just a labrat afterall."