An interesting example of film-making at the lowest end of budgets, Splinter has some good ideas, just not the time, budget, nor construction to pull them all off.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 12, 2025

Wilkins makes up for his low budget with some truly impressive practical effects and stellar character work.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 28, 2023

In a retrospective world, now is the time to revisit Splinter - or to discover it for the first time. You won't be disappointed.

| Jan 15, 2021

It may find itself a cult following, but in a genre full of similar movies, it is more likely that Splinter will be assimilated just like its victims, and forgotten.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 5, 2020

I'm ready for the sequel but with the tension and fear factor amped up tenfold!!!!

| Nov 15, 2019

Splinter earns our respect while delivering 82 minutes of lean, mean fun.

| Feb 6, 2018

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 17, 2011

A very efficient and effective (for its budget) zombie-infection-sci-fi-thriller

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Apr 17, 2009

deliver[s] plenty of bang from the filmmaker's limited bucks - but Splinter's greatest strengths, rare for the genre, are its solid characterisation, witty dialogue and charismatic performances.

| Mar 4, 2009

If you can get beyond one basic narrative flaw, and a low budget dynamic which provides limited looks at our Bottin-inspired fiends, Splinter will come as a wonderful little fright flick surprise.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 20, 2008

This is a terrifying film.

Full Review | Nov 10, 2008

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

| Nov 10, 2008

Four people. One Kwik-E-Mart style shop. One crazed creature. Splinter proves that's all you need for a chilling horror movie.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 8, 2008

Fans hoping for a substantial work are left with no real statement or vision, while horror aficionados have already seen this film a dozen times before.

| Original Score: 43/100 | Nov 6, 2008

This slightly elevated generic effort is still essentially what they mean by disposable entertainment.

Full Review | Oct 31, 2008

[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 few new Halloween scares.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 31, 2008

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

| Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 31, 2008

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.

| Oct 31, 2008

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

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 31, 2008

a nifty example of the horror-movie as thrill ride

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 30, 2008