Splinter Blu-Ray with Jill Wagner, Paulo Costanzo, Shea Whigham (R) +Movie Reviews

"Splinter" Is a Taut Indie That May Get Under Your Skin

K. Harris | Las Vegas, NV | 11/04/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Admittedly, my expectations when it comes to modern independent horror are pretty limited. For the most part, films go for cheese and splatter with loads of lame humor. I called these films lazy in a recent review, as they trade genuine suspense for a quick chuckle every time. Making an intentionally bad movie must be much easier than attempting something that genuinely draws the audience in. So when I checked out Toby Wilkins' "Splinter" on a lark, I was pleasantly surprised. "Splinter" is a taut, fast-paced and nasty little thriller that works as solid entertainment.

A jolty, kinetic little creature feature--the tone and pacing of "Splinter" recalls other (perhaps more sophisticated films) with its quick and jagged editing, but it works well here. The creature in question is a spiky parasite that kills its prey and then uses the bodies to maneuver around in a grisly spectacle of attack. It's an interesting and unsettling visual to see the carcasses bent, broken, altered, and taken over. The violence and settings are played for "real," with characters you come to know and respect. That, to me, was the real selling point of "Splinter." It set up character types at the beginning, but through nice performances and an attention to dialogue in the script--these individuals break through as real protagonists that you want to see succeed.

This genuine respect for the characters (and thankfully, they're not just idiots) is what brings the suspense to life. The film is short, brutal, sometimes unexpected and it works brilliantly on its own terms. In a world where independent horror can be painful--I felt that this little film was a nice diversion. I may not remember the film several months down the line, but I enjoyed the nasty ride now. With reasonable expectations, "Splinter" just might surprise you too. KGHarris, 11/08."

INTERESTING BLOODY HORROR GORE FEST!

! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b | TRI STATE AREA | 10/30/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was able to check this out as a sneak peak in my own home tonight and I will say 'Splinter' is a pretty solid interesting horror film! The film is a cross breed with touches of The Thing(remake), The Blob and 28 days! Gorehounds will like this film as it pulls no punches when it comes to graphic deaths and dismemberment, but the story will keep old fashioned horror fans interested too!

The film is short and fast paced, but the characters are fairly believable and you care about them....so important to any horror film! The film begins with an attack on a gas station attendant by an unknown "critter" with a lot of spikes(or "Splinters"..if you will)sticking out of it. I don't usually like to tell a whole lot about a film and prefer to let the viewer see things unfold on their own. The best part of the movie is finding out what these critters are or who?! I don't know if you want to spend your money seeing this in the theater as it is only around an hour and 15 minutes long, but I know I will be looking to buy this film when it becomes available on DVD.....when the price in right! ;-b"

A surprisingly delightful film

C. Helm | Columbus OH | 03/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I seldom expect much from an indie horror movie so I'm not usually disappointed when it turns out to be so bad it's bad. "Splinter" is one of those very rare exceptions: a good story and even better script, good direction, and excellent acting by people I had never heard of. Shea Wigham is the real standout, as the escaped con with some real humanity and courage. You will actually care about these characters, and what this parasite does to its victims is genuinely horrifying. Too bad it's so short, but until the DVD comes out, I'm settling for watching it on the Sci-Fi Channel every time it runs."

Splinter

Clinton Enlow | Kansas | 10/06/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You always have to go the independent route it seems to find the more interesting horror films. If you were to judge from the opening moments of Splinter you might not make it through the film. The opening as it is involves visually what looks like a man being violated by a badger. Then you get into the main character story of actors that fall straight into their cliches from the nerdy scientist boyfriend played by Paulo Costanzo, his tough wilderness oriented girlfriend, and the hardened criminal who takes them hostage with his drug addled girlfriend. The cons spend too much time dropping the f-bomb and the film doesn't work.
Until everyone gets to the gas station and gets trapped inside the tight little set of a rural gas station with a creature outside fighting them to get in. The director Toby Wilkins in my opinion has made an amazingly tense little creature feature with an interesting monster in the form of parasitic splinters that take over the bodies of creatures they inhabit. The film as it is is intense survival horror with characters fighting to survive compounded by things like bodies that might not be dead and a lack of help. I liked the idea of a single set which is used to great effect by Wilkins and all the actors do good at never becoming annoying, especially Shea Whigam, a character actor who makes a good hero in the escaped convict. If theres one complaint against the movie it would be in the use of shaky combat cam. I can understand why its used here and thankfully its done better than in the recent Pandorum hiding problems with visual effects but the jerky editing and images still aren't a favorite film aspect of mine as I like to sometimes see what I'm supposed to be afraid of.
Still the movies a lot of fun for those who enter with the right expectations. Theres some gore, some violence but a lot of suspense that should have it. For the DVD Magnolia again steps forward and delivers a good disc with featurettes on aspects of the film, a making of that is disappointingly short and an engaging commentary from the director and cast.
I liked the film quiet a bit and recommend it for those seeking out something differnt than the normal studio horror film."

Splinter (Blu-Ray) thoughts

Daniel J. Kunkle | Bellevue, NE USA | 08/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie deserves any praise it gets and certainly deserves more recognition than it has received. The characters are well developed and you find yourself actually giving a damn about them which is a rare thing for movies these days let alone horror movies which are usually just blood and guts torture porn with little plot other than the blood splattering the camera lens. The monster was very well done especially considering the budget this movie had to work with which just goes to show that sometimes a little creativity and imagination can meet and even surpass those films with much higher budgets to work with. Also, when it comes to the victims of the monster in this movie the effects were bone chilling.. or actually.. bone snapping and brutal and again surpassed expectations considering the budget. This film is a must have for any fan of horror as so much of it was just done right."

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	Splinter Blu-ray Actors: Jill Wagner, Paulo Costanzo, Shea Whigham Director: Toby Wilkins R 2009 1hr 22min A young couple and an escaped convict find themselves having to work together to survive and escape from a vicious parasitic monster that transforms people into bloodthirsty hosts.
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