First we had “Let the Right One In” last weekend — and now we have “Splinter.” It took a while for 2008 to get its horror movie groove on, but better late than never! “Splinter” is definitely one of the great surprises of the year.
Getting a limited edition release today (on Halloween, natch) and sporting an impressive “fresh” 70% rating on RottenTomatoes.com, “Splinter” is a very-low-budget throwback to early ’80s horror that is lean, mean, and genuinely scary.
Picture “The Evil Dead” with sprinkles of “The Thing” and “The Blob” and you’ll have an idea of what you’re in for.
More info (no spoilers though) and the trailer after the jump….
I won't go into too much detail about the actual plot. At 82 minutes, things move fast and furious, and within 3 minutes of the film starting you know this is going to be a great ride.
Let's just say you've got a very small cast (six), dealing with something that is nasty, freaky, and terrifying.
"Splinter" is the first full-length film by director Toby Wilkins, who has a long resume of visual effects on major Hollywood films. And this instantly makes him a talent to watch, along with writer Ian Shorr and Kai Berry. Acting is incredibly strong across the board, with Shea Whigham and "Blade: The Series" costar Jill Wagner making the best impressions.
Is the film reinventing the wheel? Nope -- you've seen this all done before. But you've rarely seen it done with this much understanding of what makes an effective horror film. It's a B film elevated to a B+ through sheer talent that takes a tiny budget and produces something that easily rivals what the major studios put out.
If you can't see it in the theater, see it on DVD. But do it right. Turn off the lights and turn off the cellphones. You'll be reminded of how you felt watching such films as "The Evil Dead" and "The Hitcher." And that's a good thing.
Splinter Trailer (2008) from Toby Wilkins on Vimeo.
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