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Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Wagner, Rachel Kerbs, Charles Baker ... see more see more... , Laurel Whitsett

CGI effects wizard and versatile cinema Renaissance man Toby Wilkins directed this shocker, which is set in and around a remote gas station, where a vicious, virus-like entity invades the body of huma... read more read more...n victims and instills in them an unquenchable thirst for human blood. On their way into the wilderness for a romantic weekend alone, a young couple is carjacked by a desperate escaped criminal and his devious girlfriend. Later, as the mismatched couples head ever deeper into the woods, they unknowingly become targeted by a parasitic creature that absorbs the corpses of its human victims. The situation goes from bad to worse when the four travelers seek shelter at an abandoned gas station, and the insatiable creature begins taking them over one by one. With no means of telling who's been infected and who can still be trusted, the prospect of anyone escaping with their lives grows increasingly dim with each passing minute. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

47% liked it

12,082 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

35 critics

R, 1 hr. 22 min.

Directed by: Toby Wilkins

Release Date: October 31, 2008

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DVD Release Date: January 27, 2009

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Stats: 1,115 reviews

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Charles Baker as Blake Sherman Jr. in Splinter Splinter Splinter
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Flixster Reviews (1,115)

  • moonrivers
    May 13, 2012
    moonrivers
    Intimate little horror film that happens mainly at a out-of-the-way gas station. A foursome is stranded ... and the station open, yet unattended. For its size surprisingly effective with plenty of tension.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 17, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Splinter is one awesome horror film. Original, inventive, scary and fun, Splinter captures the essence of what used to make Horror such a great genre of film. Director Toby Wilkins has created quite possibly a future classic of Horror. Some people say that this film lacks a back... read more story, however maybe this will be explored in a sequel? Who knows? It's true that the story leaves a few questions unanswered, but usually the questions are answered with a sequel. Toby Wilkins's Splinter is one blood soaked good time. For an Indie Horror film, the acting and story are overall excellent. Also worth mentioning is the incredible effects used in the film. The filmmakers did not use any CGI effects, these were all old school style effects, almost in the style of Rob Bottin, Tom Savini and other great Special effects artists. I thought it was a great touch to the film, and it was very impressive to see on screen. If Toby Wilkins keeps this up, he can become one of the few talented directors who can actually reinvent Horror, and maybe bring it back to it's former glory. Splinter is so good that you can forgive Toby Wilkins for making The Grudge 3. Though not a groundbreaking film in the genre, Splinter does something that is much needed in the genre, and thats making the Horror genre fun again for the Horror fans. Despite it's flaws, you can overlook them because Splinter is a well crafted film with a good enough cast and terrific special effects. The formula for this type of film has been done before, sure; but we can ignore it because Splinter definitely delivers on everything it promises. A fine horror film, Splinter is definitely a step above all those generic Hollywood remakes that don't bring us anything new, except for bad teen actors trying to make it big. Consider this film as an alternative to remakes, you'll have a bloody, gory good time.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    May 21, 2010
    FiLmCrAzY
    An alright horror with decen acting for this type of genre which is nice to see!
    Although an alright movie its not scary at all but it does keep you interested enough to watch it till the end however not to sure you'd watch this movie again though!!
    I like how its explained and... read more it doesnt look fake at all either which is surprising!!
  • deano
    March 1, 2010
    deano
    It looks like a zombie movie meets Leviation as this horror film is genuinely frightening. The characters are well drawn for this softa stuff and the siege offers suspense, but director Toby Wilkins never makes our heroes particularly resourceful, and nearly undermines the... read more entire enterprise with his insufferably frenzied direction of attacks.
  • bbcfloridabound
    December 16, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    This is about the best modern day Terror film I have seen in a very long time. This one not only made me jump a few times but also had to turn my head. Come out of the vault of those I never heard of via the big screen, so coming across this one was via that of Flixster's friend... read mores recommendations. (Thanks All). Starts out with an infected animal gobbling up a gas station attended, our little pet fluffy has somehow been infected with the splinter, and while traveling down the road 2 unsuspecting couples (1 couple being held at gun point) run over fluffy and so our infection of our 4 main stars begin. The special effects are great especially the infected thing that?s holding our cast captive in the gas station, The bending and breaking of body parts compares to no other film out there. Don?t know what everyone else is watching and reviewing. Most don't give this film the respect it deserves. I'm giving it 5 Stars.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 12, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    This is a Remake of a Movie I can remember the title.
  • DrZeek
    October 20, 2009
    DrZeek
    Seth Belzer: [after watching the parasite tear a police officer apart] It ah... it took half of her.

    A very generic horror tale that follows a good amount of formula and some cheesy cliches, but its made well enough for a low budget horror creeper flick.

    Trapped in an isola... read moreted gas station by a hungry and never before seen 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. How did these characters all wind up in this situation? A young couple was on there way to a camping trip, saw a hitchhiker, and of course became hostages of a gun toting man and his druggie girlfriend. They hit something in the middle of the road while driving, turns out to be something deadlier than they could have imagined. The car soon overheats, leading them to the abandoned gas station, where they become trapped.

    I know its a low budget film, but the editing style bugged me. It was clearly handled to not reveal too much of the creature effects that would be lacking otherwise, and at times that works, but, especially in the opening sequence, it just set me on a path for what to expect to see in this movie.

    The actors are actually good enough, even if their characters are pretty stale, although the ideas and choices that are made do justice to common logic and not stupid ideas. And I can never get enough out of the idea that someone is of course qualified to identify some new creature scientifically. Certainly if the film didn't have so much of a serious tone, I could be more forgiving.

    Now, I found this film decent enough. The gore factor and creativity of the creature in question does work. However, I just really hope this doesn't lead to me seeing annoying direct-to-DVD sequals being churned out.

    Dennis Farell: Jesus lady, help can't even help us.
  • creepfreak
    June 2, 2009
    creepfreak
    Decent horror film, but also a forgettable one. Not at all scary or intense, wasn't as gory as I hoped it would be, and not much of a back-story at all. What I liked about it were the characters and performances, and I liked the creature effects and the creature's strange abiliti... read morees it had on the human body(very creative). It seems like they didn't use any CG either from what I can remember. If they used CG, then they did one hell of a job covering it up. I'm not a big fan of CG, and I like how this movie kept it old school. The movie moved along quickly as well, and it never became boring. And damn was this a short movie! But that's about it. I wish there was more. But for a low budget horror movie, I have to say, this is one of the better ones. Unfortunately though, it's really not a memorable movie either.

    For me, it was good for a onetime viewing only.

  • Beefy
    May 6, 2009
    Beefy
    Solid if unoriginal low budget horror gem that deserves props for going so far on so little budget. A fun beastie that allows for many amusing homages to other films.
  • romy861
    May 2, 2009
    romy861
    Okay, it was kind of silly, but for a b-grade horror I didn't mind it.

View All Splinter Reviews

Critic Reviews

Ben Mankiewicz
November 10, 2008
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

This is a terrifying film. Full Review

Ben Lyons
November 10, 2008
Ben Lyons, At the Movies

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

Elizabeth Weitzman
October 31, 2008
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York 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 fe... Full Review

Kyle Smith
October 31, 2008
Kyle Smith, New York Post

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

Stephen Whitty
October 31, 2008
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

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

Joe Morgenstern
October 31, 2008
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

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

A.O. Scott
October 31, 2008
A.O. Scott, New York Times

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

Claudia Puig
October 30, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

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

Rafer Guzman
October 30, 2008
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

If you've seen The Thing or The Evil Dead, you've seen much of Splinter, but it's a lean, fast-moving and fun little flick that doesn't waste any of its scant 82 minutes. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
October 29, 2008
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

A nifty horror movie that doesn't claim to be anything other than a zippy exercise in creature-feature entertainment. Full Review

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