As genetic engineering progresses, humanity will be faced with issues of morality time and time again. Splice looks at the field of artificial life and the specific issue of combining human and non-human DNA. In the film, two researchers, facing the loss of their research, decide to combine human and animal DNA to create a new life form - just to prove it can be done. Once the birth occurs, each has a different response to the creature and those responses change over time as Dren develops towards adulthood.

The plot focuses on the different relationships Clive and Elsa have to the being they have birthed for science. Fearing their employer's response, they hide Dren and eventually mover her off site to protect her. Dren's development affects both scientists in different ways, with each responding to Dren and each other in different and sometimes horrific ways.

Why should you watch it?
Splice is an enjoyable film and intelligent enough to be disturbing and thoughtful at the same time. Be aware scenes go quickly from strange to chilling to horrific at times and the Uncanny Valley is in full effect as Dren's portrayal by actress Delphine Chaneac is amazingly human, yet never human at all.

There are downsides to the film. One is the tired use of fast-aging artificial life so the audience gets to see it at all stages, though that story element does benefit this film. The other is how quickly the film shifts towards horror at the end. A different and more thoughtful ending would be appreciated, but the last few scenes also offer a look at corporate bioethics.

Topics covered
Futurists will enjoy the topics explored in the movie, including:

• Bioethics
• Profit-driven corporate science
• The value of synthetic life
• Relationships with a humanoid lifeform that does not share our development, language or emotional balance.