Splice is brilliant in its barrage of discomfort, rarely allowing its viewers a bit of respite, much less any awe-inspiring “Eureka!” moments. Natali had originally planned to make Splice after the success of Cube, but he found special effects technology to be lacking. His wait for advancements paid off — Dren, a mix of a live actor, prosthetics, and CGI, is the film’s highlight. If there’s any director Natali seems to be channeling, it’s David Cronenberg, who was unafraid to challenge his audience’s expectations. Other sci-fi films might display this as a chance for people to embrace their normal “humanity” and emerge “stronger.” Not Splice.