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Movies / On DVD / Splinter
Splinter

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Splinter (2008)

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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

US Box Office: $0

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 [More]

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

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Reviews for Splinter

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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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.

Full Review Source: The Horror Geek | comment Comment
05/03/09
Mike Bracken
Mike Bracken
The Horror Geek

A very efficient and effective (for its budget) zombie-infection-sci-fi-thriller

Full Review Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
04/17/09
Lucius Gore
Lucius Gore
ESplatter

Everything you expect to happen, does - but it isn't satisfying.

Full Review Source: Horror.com | comment Comment
04/03/09
Staci Layne Wilson
Staci Layne Wilson
Horror.com

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.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
03/04/09
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Channel 4 Film

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.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
11/20/08
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
PopMatters

This is a terrifying film.

Full Review Source: At the Movies | comment Comment
11/10/08
Ben Mankiewicz
Ben Mankiewicz
At the Movies

It's good, it's just nothing really groundbreaking or special.

Full Review Source: At the Movies | comment Comment
11/10/08
Ben Lyons
Ben Lyons
At the Movies

Four people. One Kwik-E-Mart style shop. One crazed creature. Splinter proves that's all you need for a chilling horror movie.

Full Review Source: What Would Toto Watch? | comment Comment
11/08/08
Christian Toto
Christian Toto
What Would Toto Watch?

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.

Full Review Source: Paste Magazine | comment Comment
11/06/08
Sean Gandert
Sean Gandert
Paste Magazine

This slightly elevated generic effort is still essentially what they mean by disposable entertainment.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
10/31/08
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News

[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.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
10/31/08
Elizabeth Weitzman
Elizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily News

There have been worse horror flicks, but although this one offers a few scares, it doesn't have a lot of imagination.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
10/31/08
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith
New York Post

The movie's awash in blood, sure, but it has more brains on hand than just the ones dripping down the wall.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
10/31/08
Stephen Whitty
Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger

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.

Full Review Source: Wall Street Journal | comment Comment
10/31/08
Joe Morgenstern
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

With Splinter, the director Toby Wilkins honors the conventions of the horror genre with skill and enough wit to keep the scares sharp.

comment Comment
10/31/08
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

a nifty example of the horror-movie as thrill ride

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
10/30/08
Jay Antani
Jay Antani
Filmcritic.com

This is one tedious horror film.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
10/30/08
Geoff Berkshire
Geoff Berkshire
Metromix.com

This is classic Halloween fun, with plenty of thrills and chills, surprisingly believable performances, and healthy doses of humor.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
10/30/08
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The ingredients are all there: a small, virtually unknown cast, a remote location, a nasty critter -- but the seasoning is all off.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment 2 Comments
10/30/08
Alex Markerson
Alex Markerson
E! Online

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.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
10/30/08
Scott Tobias
Scott Tobias
AV Club
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Splinter

April 13, 2009: RT on DVD: Frank Miller Talks The Spirit, Michel Gondry Releases New Music Video DVD
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. Opens in new window
More...

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. Opens in new window
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 Opens in new window
More...

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