DVD Review: Splinter (2008)

Hailed as one of the best horror films in 2008, Splinter failed to deliver on the hype and keeps the horror genre at best, on a mediocre field.

When a husband and wife are taken hostage by an escaped convict, they end up locked inside a petrol station with a voracious parasite outside wanting to get at them. They are unaware that the parasite is already with them, transforming the convict into one of its kind.

Horror ... isolation ... creature outside trying to get in: I fail to see how this differs from the many hundreds of horror movies following what is turning into a trope. I have always said that a bad idea can be told well, but this isn't one of them. I had been looking forward to watching this movie and am not impressed at all by it.

It boasts six awards at Screamfest, including Best Directing and Best Special Effects ... what does this say about the competition? What on earth is happening to horror movies these days? The stories are bland, characters are weak and don't grow on you, the creatures are stereotypical or unimaginative, and the camerawork ... yeuch! I will not be watching Splinter again.

I watch horror movies by the dozen and the last couple of years have been disappointing. I recall only one horror movie I have liked over the last few years: The Mist (Stephen King, although I'm not fond of his literature). I especially don't like the camerawork in Splinter - I see no point in 'flickering' the picture to imitate panic (although it can't be as bad as the movie Gabriel!)

It is no wonder horror is not as popular as it should be. Come on! Better movies please!