deliver[s] plenty of bang from the filmmaker's limited bucks - but Splinter's greatest strengths, rare for the genre, are its solid characterisation, witty dialogue and charismatic performances.
Splinter (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:35
Fresh:25
Rotten:10
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: Never taking itself too seriously, Splinter scores as a fast-paced, fun thriller with more than enough scares.
Runtime: 82 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Synopsis:
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...
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 in deeper trouble than any of them could have imagined -- a blood-crazed, parasitic creature that absorbs the corpses of its victims has laid claim to the woods, and the two couples are now in its sights.
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....
The feature film debut from award-winning British horror director Toby Wilkins, Splinter is an exhilarating ride of jolts and laughs, and a throw back to the classic creature features of the early 70s and 80s.--© Magnolia Pictures
Starring: Charles Baker, Jill Wagner, Paulo Costanzo, Shea Whigham
Starring: Charles Baker, Jill Wagner, Paulo Costanzo, Shea Whigham, Rachel Kerbs, Laurel Whitsett
Director: Toby Wilkins
Director: Toby Wilkins
Screenwriter: Ian Shorr, Kai Barry
Producer: Kai Barry, Ted Kroeber
Composer: Elia Cmiral
Studio: Magnolia Pictures
Reviews for Splinter
Splinter is another reaffirmation of my faith that horror can be more than boring remakes and sequels. It's proof that there are still good ideas out there.
A very efficient and effective (for its budget) zombie-infection-sci-fi-thriller
If you can get beyond one basic narrative flaw, and a low budget dynamic which provides limited looks at our Bottin-inspired fiends, Splinter will come as a wonderful little fright flick surprise.
Four people. One Kwik-E-Mart style shop. One crazed creature. Splinter proves that's all you need for a chilling horror movie.
Fans hoping for a substantial work are left with no real statement or vision, while horror aficionados have already seen this film a dozen times before.
This slightly elevated generic effort is still essentially what they mean by disposable entertainment.
[Director] Wilkins understands that what we don't see is often more unsettling than what we do. But he also throws in plenty of well-earned gore, making this an ideal option if you're looking for a few new Halloween scares.
There have been worse horror flicks, but although this one offers a few scares, it doesn't have a lot of imagination.
The movie's awash in blood, sure, but it has more brains on hand than just the ones dripping down the wall.
It's short, taut, nicely shot, well-acted, astutely directed, specific where it might have been generic, original enough to be engrossing and derivative enough to be amusing.
With Splinter, the director Toby Wilkins honors the conventions of the horror genre with skill and enough wit to keep the scares sharp.
This is classic Halloween fun, with plenty of thrills and chills, surprisingly believable performances, and healthy doses of humor.
The ingredients are all there: a small, virtually unknown cast, a remote location, a nasty critter -- but the seasoning is all off.
The film lacks that spark of originality or humor or thematic resonance that might have elevated it from forgettable genre time-passer to something more lasting.
Latest News for Splinter
April 13, 2009:
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It's a light week for home video entertainment, but never fear -- RT on DVD is here! We'll kick things off with the biggest title of the week: Frank Miller's The Spirit, which... More...
February 08, 2009:
Excelling in creative scaring skills, Splinter boasts thorny issues like psycho fungi who go mobile, nuclear hedgehogs, homicidal human porcupines, impromptu carnivorous rooftop dining on half a state trooper, and a dangerously defrosting savior on ice. ![]()
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January 31, 2009:
Excelling in creative scaring skills, Splinter boasts thorny issues like psycho fungi who go mobile, nuclear hedgehogs, homicidal human porcupines, impromptu carnivorous rooftop dining on half a state trooper, and a dangerously defrosting savior on ice. ![]()
More...
November 04, 2008:
its greatest strength is its focus on characterisation, so that for all the monstrous goings-on at the periphery, the human element always remains at the centre to keep the viewer involved and amused ![]()
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