Splinter

If we could have an enjoyable little horror film like this more often than quarterly, I wouldn’t complain at all. The best thing about it is seeing that it’s still possible to come up with original monsters that in their originality can also generate a natural impression. In the case of Splinter, they are funny parasitic thorns with loads of unpleasant properties, such as taking the lives of their hosts. The two protagonists are very likeable, too, and you can also appreciate that their behaviour is fairly rational under the circumstances (at least for most of the film, in the last twenty minutes it goes a little off the rails). The low budget can be seen mostly in that the monster is never shown fully in motion. During those scenes, we only see it through very quickly edited shots, giving us only a vague idea of what it exactly looks like, which actually fits beautifully with the way it “walks”, and as a result, that necessary measure ends up having a rather positive effect. I can wholeheartedly recommend Splinter, it’s pretty effective horror with tension and a few bloody scenes here and there. In the ending, or rather, the last twenty minutes, I would’ve appreciated if the story had developed a bit differently, but I’m still satisfied. Will there be a sequel or not… (02.11.2008)

"Under the Skin" is a small film that manages to captivate by featuring clichés that are typical for American horror, but at the same time, there are moments when these clichés are turned upside down. I'm sure that any other film would still address the relationship between hostages and criminals, but "Under the Skin" does not focus on that and handles the situation well, and actually quite innovatively. It is easier to team up with an enemy against a common enemy than to fight alone for oneself. (22.07.2014)