Splinter Review

Written by: alex1176   

"Splinter" is a formula monster movie that surprised me by how little it delivered the goods. After reading the praises on the DVD cover art, I rented the movie and discovered the picture isn't as good as I expected. Actually, I was hoping not really expecting since I've learned by having expectations you're setting yourself up for disappoint (if it doesn't come through). No, "Splinter" isn't as gory nor as scary as the ads would lead you to believe. The script is pretty basic, but the dialogue is well-written. And the hero of the story looks like a bearded "Screech" from "Saved by the Bell".

The movie opens with him and his hot girlfriend traveling through the countryside when they are taken hostage by a criminal couple. When their van's radiator overheats, they get down at a gas station and use it as their hideout when a mutated monster attacks them. The "splinter" of the title describes the very thing the creature uses to multiply itself. Dennis, the criminal of the pack, gets one under his finger after fixing a tire and decides a little to late to get rid of the infection.

The movie is less than 90 minutes and has a few surprises, but not too many. Movies like "Feast" and "Hatchet" deliver alot more in the gore department. "Splinter" isn't a waste of time, I just wished it was a better movie. It has a promising premise, but doesn't expand on it as much as it could.