Splinter

Film: Splinter

Year: 2008

Director: Toby Wilkins

Writers: Ian Shorr and Kai Berry

Starring: Shea Whingham, Jill Wagner and Paulo Costanzo

Review:

This is a film that I learned about thanks to podcasts. What first drew me in was the poster. I then heard about this on a few shows and it went on a list of ones to see. This would have come out when I was in college, so it probably didn’t get a wide release to theaters so I missed it. I might have had it on my Netflix queue, but they stopped sending DVDs before I got to it. This was chosen as a film to cover on Side Quest Podcast with my co-host Jake.

Synopsis: trapped in an isolated gas station by a voracious Splinter parasite that transforms its still-living victims into deadly hosts, a young couple and an escaped convict must find a way to work together to survive this primal terror.

We start this at the remote gas station. Blake Sherman Jr. (Charles Baker) is working there. He sets up a lawn chair while having a snack. He hears something in the brush and just assumes it is an animal. Whatever it is attacks him viciously.

It is from here that we meet our two couples. We have Polly Watt (Jill Wagner) and Seth Belzer (Paulo Costanzo). They’re coming out here to camp for their anniversary. He’s not much of an outdoors guy and they end up breaking the parts to their tent. It is then decided to find a cheap motel instead.

The others are Dennis Farell (Shea Whigham) and Lacey Belisle (Rachel Kerbs). He’s recently escaped from jail. Lacey is strung out and going through withdrawals. She has hidden money for him so they can collect it before fleeing to Mexico. He does have something planned with this though. They hit a snag when their truck breaks down so they need to find another vehicle.

Here, Lacey stops the couple, and Dennis holds them at gunpoint, demanding a ride. Ironically, Dennis wants Seth to drive, but since Seth cannot operate a stick shift, Polly takes the wheel. Complications arise when they hit something that flattens a tire. While Dennis and Polly change it, Seth and Lacey investigate the impact. Instead of the dead dog that Lacey thinks it is, they discover the crushed but still-moving animal that attacked Blake. Meanwhile, Dennis gets pricked by an object embedded in the tire.

They have to stop off at the gas station as the car is overheating. The spikes on the animal punctured a hose. Lacey tries to go to the bathroom to take a hit. What she finds inside is Blake, changed into something like the animal. It attacks and kills her. The other three hide inside. Lacey starts to move, making Dennis think that she’s still alive. Seth is working toward his doctorate in biology so he’s intrigued by whatever is affecting them. It turns into a fight for survival and to avoid infection. Time is running short and this parasite will stop at nothing to get them.

That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that this is an interesting, low budget film. I’m impressed overall with what they do here. If I have a gripe, I’d want more characters. With what we do get though, it still works. I do have to say, this does feel inspired by The Thing with elements that we get. I’ll come back to that later.

Where I want to start is with the set up. We have this isolated location and we get the idea that there aren’t a lot of people coming this way. Polly and Seth are here to go camping. It doesn’t seem that this gas station gets a lot of business, probably just enough to stay open. At night they more than likely don’t get more than a customer or two. Blake having this lawn chair ready to go builds that up. Since Dennis and Lacey are coming this way to avoid detection, that fits as well. It helps make this contained, which I’m a fan of.

Looking at this parasite, I love that it feeds on blood. It isn't intelligent, but takes over and animates the host just to eat, leading Seth to believe it is a fungus. While its vampiric nature is a common way to get nutrients, its severed body parts moving independently feels like a homage to Evil Dead 2 or The Thing. What sets it apart and raises the stakes are its growing spikes, which puncture skin and cause deadly infections.

The film explores the subversion of traditional masculinity and power dynamics. Dennis judges Seth for being unable to drive stick or change a tire, while Polly can, earning the criminal's initial respect. Survival forces them to overcome these judgments and appreciate what each person offers. It also delivers eco-horror through an unfeeling, efficient parasite that strips hosts of autonomy, creating a creepy factor as disembodied parts move independently.

Let’s then shift over to the filmmaking aspects. I wanted to first give credit to the cinematography and framing. It captures the isolated feeling of where it is set. There are woods and far from civilization which adds tension. I also like how it frames the attack sequences. I’m guessing it was done with a combination of practical and computer effects. The former look great and the latter mostly work. I also thought that the music and sound design fit what was needed.

All that is left then would be the acting performances. Whigham is probably the best performance as this criminal. What is good is that he starts as a villain. There are things hinted at and once we learn more about him, he is a grey character. That is something that adds to this story. Wagner and Costanzo are good as this couple who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kerbs works in her role along with Baker. We also get Sheriff Terri Frankel who is Laurel Whitsett. She was solid for what was needed as well.

In conclusion, this stands as an impressive example of how a low-budget, contained horror film can be effectively executed through tension, practical effects, and strong character dynamics. By blending elements of classic eco-horror with a unique parasite concept and solid performances—particularly from Whigham—the film manages to elevate itself beyond its modest means. It effectively balances visceral scares with an intriguing narrative, making it a compelling, albeit underrated, watch for fans of the genre who appreciate a tense fight for survival.

My Rating: 7 out of 10