By Robert Scucci
| Published 8 seconds ago

Sometimes you catch a movie that pisses you off so much while you’re watching it because every character in it is so unbelievably stupid. 2009’s Splice is exceptionally frustrating because it follows two genetic engineers, meaning smart people, who repeatedly make the dumbest decisions of their lives through reckless, unsanctioned medical experiments they should know better than to keep performing in secrecy. Movies like Splice always make me feel conflicted because the entire point of the movie seems to be pissing off the viewer.

The entire point of Splice, I’m convinced, is for me to scream at my TV, saying, “please stop doing stupid things,” and “wow, you’re pretty dumb for a genius.” As of writing this very sentence, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. The film evoked a visceral reaction from me, so if that was writer-director Vincenzo Natali’s intention, job well done, sir.

Could We? Should We? … Shasta? 

Splice tells the story of two genetic engineers who also happen to be romantically entangled: Clive Nicoli (Adrien Brody) and Elsa Kast (Sarah Polley). They both work at a company called Nucleic Exchange Research and Development, or N.E.R.D. for short. Clive is, by all measures, the more sensible half of the couple, but he’s also your typical movie scientist who, when told his funding may get cut, is willing to keep pushing forward anyway. Elsa, on the other hand, is the worst version of this character archetype ever committed to film, which we’ll get into in a second.

Clive and Elsa, along with their team, successfully create two animal hybrids named Fred and Ginger. Their bosses, Joan Chorot (Simona Maicanescu) and William Barlow (David Hewlett), want them to extract protein enzymes from the creatures so they can synthesize life-saving medications and bring them to market. Clive and Elsa express their desire to create a human-animal hybrid, which is rightfully discouraged because it’s playing God in the worst kind of way and a profoundly idiotic thing to do.

While Clive is disappointed that he can’t pursue what he believes is his true calling, he ultimately understands that holding off on this kind of experimentation, at least while working with Fred and Ginger, is probably the right move. Elsa, on the other hand, just goes ahead and does it anyway, resulting in the birth of a weird flipper baby they eventually decide to name Dren, which is N.E.R.D. spelled backward.

Dren is an intelligent little flipper baby, and before long she becomes a bigger, much more dangerous flipper baby. Every step of the way, Clive expresses his desire to end the experiment, the same one Elsa assured him would never even make it this far. Instead, they nurse the rapidly aging thing into adolescence and adulthood while neglecting the scientific breakthrough they’re actually being paid to monitor, resulting in a public embarrassment when Ginger transforms into a male version of the species and has a violent outburst during a press conference.

Splice Is Not Nice, And That’s The Point

What truly bothers me about Splice is Elsa. She’s one of the most unlikeable protagonists I’ve crossed paths with in a very long time, and I recently watched Nomadland, so that’s saying a lot.

Here’s my beef with Elsa. It was her idea to have a weird flipper baby and give it a name in the first place. Clive wasn’t totally on board until she forced his hand, and suddenly they had a weird, living, conscious half-human thing on their hands. Clive, who champions the scientific method and isn’t afraid to break the rules, is actually 100 percent in the right when he urges Elsa, who has formed a maternal bond with the flipper baby, to stop doing what she’s doing. Whenever the experiment backfires, Elsa takes zero accountability, shifts the blame, and takes her frustration out on everybody around her, including Dren.

Don’t get this twisted because I think Clive is equally in the wrong here, but his wrongness comes from cowardice and, quite possibly, a sexual attraction to Dren when she reaches adulthood that blinds his judgment in the worst possible way. If he had some semblance of a spine, maybe one he synthesized in a lab, Project Flipper Baby never would have gotten this far and gone off the rails so spectacularly.

Since he’s a pushover of the highest order, the blood is on his hands too when Dren, now secretly housed in the family barn that Elsa conveniently still owns, starts showing her violent tendencies while evolving into an exponentially more horrifying creature as the film progresses.

To make matters worse, Elsa starts setting arbitrary rules whenever her pride gets challenged, making an already terrible situation even worse. It’s almost as if she’s allergic to good advice. Just as much as Clive needs to synthesize a spine, Elsa needs to synthesize a conscience and a voice of reason because everything in this movie is her fault, yet she lacks the self-awareness to take accountability for any of it.

I Have Mixed Feelings

I think my reaction to Splice was exactly what Vincenzo Natali had in mind because he goes all in when creating characters who behave like this. It’s painful watching two scientists, people who should operate within some realm of ethics, potentially throw their lives away while endangering scores of people should Dren escape and wreak havoc on the surrounding community.

All I could think while watching this movie was, “please stop doing what you’re doing,” and I have to give it points for getting under my skin as much as it did.

As of this writing, Splice is not available through regular streaming subscriptions, but can be rented or purchased on-demand through Apple TV+.

The Australian countryside is about to become a hunting ground. Next week marks the arrival of one of the most tense, under-the-radar action thrillers of the year on digital and VOD, Seven Snipers, pitting Man on Fire star Radha Mitchell against Pulp Fiction alum Tim Roth in a fierce battle of wits, patience, and survival. The former plays a retired elite sniper who has set her rifle down in favor of a quiet life on a ranch with her daughter, until the latter re-enters the picture, playing a warlord from her past with a score to settle. Ahead of its arrival in the U.S., we’re thrilled to include this intense showdown as part of Collider’s Exclusive Summer Preview series, and we can share a new image hinting at the previous connection the two once shared.

In our exclusive still, The Dragon (Roth) isn’t trying to kill Kris Hendricks (Mitchell), but is instead adjusting her headband as if they’re on the same side. However, the look on the veteran sniper’s face and the presence of another armed soldier suggest this isn’t voluntary. Hendricks was once the warlord’s captive and may have even been forced to do some of his dirty work, at least until something happened long ago that freed her from his grasp. Now, years later, she appears to have played into his hands once again, though this time, she’s not about to go down without a fight. Determined to save her daughter, she’ll do anything to stop The Dragon’s quest for revenge dead in its tracks.

Fortunately for Hendricks, she’s not alone in this fight. As the title Seven Snipers implies, she was once part of an entire team of legendary ex-military marksmen, who all show up to save one of their own when she makes the call. The Dragon has a ruthless reputation for a reason, though. It’ll take all the skills Hendricks has learned during her time in the service to vanquish the ghosts of her violent past for good. At its beating heart is the relationship of a mother trying to protect her daughter from that violence, only for them both to have to confront it head-on.

‘Seven Snipers’ Brings in Some Elite Names for Its Killer Squad

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Among the elite team members surrounding Mitchell in Seven Snipers is Ioan Gruffudd, best known as the former leader of the Fantastic Four, and True Blood star Ryan Kwanten, alongside Charles Cottier, Damien Ryan, and Bianca Wallace. The film hails from Sandra Sciberras with a script by Andrew O’Keefe, who previously helmed an adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky‘s landmark novel Crime & Punishment in 2015. It marks the debut production of Monster Pictures Studios, coming out of an ongoing partnership between the banner and Head Gear Films with Grant Hardie, Ian Kirk, and Phil Hunt producing. Reviews so far have been positive, praising the film as a straightforward yet engaging actioner that relishes in the thrill of the hunt.

Seven Snipers will arrive on digital and VOD platforms on June 5. Check out our exclusive image above and stay tuned here at Collider throughout the rest of the week for more new looks at upcoming films from our summer preview series.

Part one of the “Summer House” season 10 reunion has aired. In it, Ciara Miller can be seen confronting Amanda Batula and West Wilson on multiple fronts. This includes the former nurse revealing when she first suspected the affair between one of her closest friends and her ex.

Plus, she revealed text messages from Batula denying the rumors of a romance with Wilson.

During the “Summer House” reunion, host Andy Cohen asked Miller “when and why” she first suspected that Batula and Wilson were engaged in some sort of a relationship. She responded, “First day would be January 17.”

Miller then shared that she had reached out to Batula in order to invite her out to drinks along with their co-star, Mia Calabrese, but she didn’t answer right away. It wasn’t until after they began a group chat that Batula responded.

Additionally, Miller could see that her co-star’s location put her at Wilson’s house as she ignored her call. She said, “When I initially called you, you didn’t answer. So I was like, ‘That’s so weird. Why would she be at West’s house?”

Amanda Batula Claimed She Was ‘Prioritizing Herself’

The back-and-forth continued between Miller and Batula at the “Summer House” season 10 reunion. Regarding her defense for getting close to Wilson, Batula stated, “West was there for me all summer and was checking in.”

After being confronted for “blowing [Miller] off,” Calabrese accused Batula of “prioritizing her friendship with West.” In response, she claimed, “I had an awakening, I was living on my own, I had separated from my ex, and I was trying to prioritize myself.”

Batula then stated that she also spent time with other friends, not just Wilson, during her absences from Miller. Toward the end of this section of the “Summer House” reunion, Miller called out how Wilson seemingly had no interest in defending Batula during the heated exchange.

‘Summer House’ Fans Are Reacting

The “Summer House” season 10 reunion is one of Bravo’s most highly anticipated pieces of content for 2026. This is evidenced by the fact that the network was plagued by multiple leaks following its filming. Now that part one had aired, fans of the show have opinions, with many saying Batula and Wilson are no longer needed on reality television.

One person on Instagram said, “I think West isn’t saying anything because he wants to tell the truth and Amanda wants to lie about everything.” Someone else noted, “Zero remorse or accountability.”

After that, a different fan weighed in, writing, “I agree Amanda was in the wrong- but I also think Ciara overplayed her entire relationship with West. I don’t think they were ever as serious as she believed.”

Later, a different Instagram user said, “It was the ‘I had an awakening’ defense for me, with not a single ounce of remorse or accountability, while rolling her eyes, scoffing, and cursing back at Ciara the entire night. Ciara is a class act who deserves so much more than what these two did to her, and they will crash and burn.”

A different social media user then accused Miller of being petty. According to them, “Ciara is so petty. She doesn’t want West, but doesn’t want anyone else to have him. Again, petty bull.”

Lastly, someone else defended the former nurse, commenting, “There’s a very specific type of woman criticizing Ciara and using words like ‘nasty’ and ‘classless’. It’s very telling, and we all know why.”

Ciara Miller Also Exposed Text Messages From Amanda

Another explosive clip from part one of the “Summer House” season 10 reunion came when Miller exposed text messages from Batula. In them, she tried to shoot down rumors that she was having an affair with Wilson.

Miller stated, “The day the rumors dropped, don’t hear from her until like that night.” She then read the message, which concluded with Batula claiming, “West and I are very much so just friends.” Cohen then asked Batula if they were “hooking up at that time.”

She responded, saying, “We were talking. Everything was PG.” Miller then showed texts where she asked Batula outright if they had “hooked up, made out, held hands under a table, or had sex.” This led Batula to admit that she “100% lied.”

Ciara Recently Discussed Her Friendship With Amanda

Ahead of the “Summer House” reunion premiere, Miller spoke to PEOPLE about where she stands with Batula. First, she was asked if her affair with Wilson signaled the end of their friendship.

She responded, “Yeah, for sure. Yeah. I wouldn’t do this to my worst enemy.” Regarding the reunion itself, Miller claimed, “The reunion was quite the day, but we are on to bigger and better and, you know, we can say goodbye to certain things.”

Fans can stream part one of the “Summer House” reunion on Peacock.

Akbar V had the timeline in a frenzy last week after shaking up the female rap game. Not only did she declare herself the “Princess of Rap,” but she also threw shots at Latto and Megan Thee Stallion. She even put her own spin on Trim’s viral ‘Coconut Water’ song, where she appeared to diss Trim amid their latest back-and-forth.

Akbar continued to go at Latto as she discussed their alleged issues. From claiming Latto stole her “big mama” name to drama involving a mutual friend, the rapper had a lot to get off her chest. Following all the tweets, though, Akbar is now ready to set the record straight and clear the air for 21 Savage.

RELATED: Wayment! Akbar V Alleges Latto Has Smoke With Her Because She “Loved” 21 Savage First (VIDEO)

Akbar V Shades Latto Following Her Post With 21 Savage And Keyanna Joseph

Last Monday, Latto took to the internet to share behind-the-scenes footage from her pregnancy journey and upcoming music project. In the video, the rapper showed herself revealing her pregnancy to her sister, Brooklyn, and even moments from her baby shower.

The baby shower clip also featured 21 Savage, which quickly sparked reactions and conversation across social media platforms. Following the video, Akbar V took to X and wrote, “They applauding side b****es and b****es having babies with married men what is this world coming too pray for the daughters.”

She later followed up with another tweet, writing, “Trying so hard to prove you not a side b**** babe 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 we get it.”

Despite the online shade, Akbar later showed love to 21 Savage after his recent photo dump featured a baby picture. The rapper tweeted, “Congratulations to @21savage ❤️ on your bundle of joy.”

As the conversation continued online, Latto later shared family photos alongside Keyanna Joseph, the mother of 21 Savage’s children. After the pictures hit the internet, Akbar V appeared to react once again while posting another message over on X. She tweeted, “🤣🤣🤣🤣not post a thousand family pictures … them pictures would’ve never hit the internet if i didn’t post that freestyle remember that🤣🤣🤣🤣 but ion have no influence they responding with pictures instead of Barz?🤣🤣🤣🥰”

Akbar V Takes To X With A Tweet For 21 Savage 

Despite taking shots at Latto, Akbar V wants 21 Savage to know none of it had anything to do with the love and respect she has for him. Previously, Akbar mentioned that she has a lot of love for 21 Savage because he was one of the first rappers to ever give her a feature.

On Tuesday, the rapper took to X and tagged 21, writing, “Let’s make this clear my diss don’t have nothing to do with @21savage i love my bro he a real 🥷🏼 and a gangster and yall know ion play bout ATL but baby girl know what she did this ain’t nun but rap nothing more 😏🤷🏽‍♀️🥷🏼”

Social Media Reacts 

Folks gathered under The Shade Room Teens as they reacted to Akbar V’s message to 21 Savage. While some people understood her message, others questioned why she was involving herself in the situation at all. A few users also accused Akbar of beefing for clout and told the rapper to log out. 

Instagram user @daonlyprincess_wrote, “Girl you not tired of talking to yourself …”

Instagram user @snowsimonnie added, “Akbar baby just logout for a week”

While Instagram user wrote @bawthatspatt wrote, “first trim now latto?? what’s tea akbar???”

Instagram user @skinnymini_renee wrote, “Mind you Latto still haven’t said nun 😑 want her attention so bad 😭😭”

Instagram user @ryann_ added, “She literally just had a baby leave her alone frl”

While Instagram user w@ambitious_never_thirsty wroe, “How that’s BRO and you disrespected hisGIRL/CHILD-MOTHER. You can’t have no type of love or respect for HIM for disrespecting/ coming at HIS. Yall don’t know the meaning of love or loyalty.”

REALTED: Akbar V Claims The “Princess Of Rap” Title While Seemingly Throwing Shade At Meg Thee Stallion, Latto & More (VIDEOS)

Mackenzie Shirilla’s boyfriend Dominic Russo allegedly addressed his mortality four weeks prior to her 2022 car crash that killed him.

According to a Tuesday, May 26, report by TMZ, Russo, who died at the age of 20 in a high-speed crash caused by Shirilla, 21, sent the convicted killer a text that read, “Kenzie you know I love you but I don’t think we should be together at this point, there isn’t very much time on earth,” before his death.

Shirilla, who is the subject of Netflix’s The Crash documentary and currently serving two concurrent life sentences behind bars as a result of the incident, has maintained that the July 2022 crash was the result of blacking out behind the wheel due to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Her friend Davion Flanagan also died as a result of the incident. (POTS is described by the Cleveland Clinic as a condition that affects transitioning from “lying down to standing up, such as a fast heart rate, dizziness and fatigue.”)

The outlet’s screenshot of Russo’s alleged text went on to detail the nature of their volatile romance. “I’d like to think we could stop fighting but it’s a breakup fight every week neither of us deserve,” the screenshot read. “I don’t wanna fight all the time [and I know] you don’t either. Anyone who’s around anyone every day of the week is bound to fight. If we can’t separate for a little then we are only going to fight more.”

Related: Mackenzie Shirilla Is a Prison ‘Mean Girl’ and Often Has Hickeys, Says Inmate

Following the release of Netflix’s The Crash, a former inmate claimed that Mackenzie Shirilla is nothing like the remorseful prisoner she’s depicted as in the true crime documentary. “When she walked out in the documentary, my jaw literally dropped, because her demeanor and the way that she looked was nothing like the person I was […]

The alleged text concluded, “I don’t want you to think I’m abandoning you, I wish it could work, but I don’t think it’s going to at this point especially with the threats. We should just break up so we can both find happiness somewhere else.”

The outlet stated that the text was sent on July 2, 2022. The car crash occurred in the early morning of July 31, 2022.

Shirilla went to trial in 2023 and was convicted of 12 felony charges including four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count each of drug possession and possessing criminal tools. Prosecutors argued that the incident was a botched murder-suicide attempt, pointing to the vehicle’s speed of 100 mph and the absence of braking before the vehicle slammed into a brick wall.

Related: Mackenzie Shirilla’s Former Inmate Claims She Had No ‘Remorse’ for Crime

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A former inmate who served time with Mackenzie Shirilla at the Ohio Reformatory for Women claimed that she didn’t show “remorse” behind bars and wanted to “be like” the Mean Girls character Regina George. Mary Katherine “Kat” Crowder shared claims about what Shirilla, 21, was really like in prison following the release of Netflix’s The […]

In the Netflix documentary, which was released on May 15, Shirilla was filmed from behind bars. She expressed remorse for the deaths of Russo and Flanagan while stating that her POTS diagnosis caused the crash.

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People reported on Tuesday that Shirilla texted Russo’s brother in the wake of his death to ask that the family place photos of the former couple within his grave “so he can be with me forever.”

The outlet also reported on Tuesday that Shirilla reached out to Russo’s mother to tell her she was considering hypnosis in an attempt to recover memories from the incident.

Shirilla is eligible for parole in 2037.

Paige DeSorbo has become one of Bravo’s biggest breakout stars, but according to former “Summer House” cast member Stephen McGee, her reality TV journey almost never happened. 

During a recent appearance at the show’s reunion watch party, McGee claimed he unknowingly changed the casting process behind Season 3 after exposing two women who were originally expected to join the series. 

His revelation comes months after DeSorbo officially exited the hit Bravo show following years as one of its most recognizable faces.

Stephen McGee is taking credit for helping bring Paige DeSorbo into the Bravo universe. The former “Summer House” star made the surprising claim while speaking to Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-tea” during Tuesday’s reunion watch party.

“I love Paige DeSorbo,” McGee said before revealing he first met her years ago while dining in Capri, Italy. 

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“Actually, the very first time I ever met Paige, we were in Capri, Italy, and we were sat next to each other at a restaurant randomly,” he shared.

However, McGee insisted their chance meeting was not the only connection between them. According to the reality star, events he set in motion ultimately opened the door for DeSorbo to land her role on the Bravo series.

“But, she does not — I don’t think — really even know this: I’m the reason that the world has a Paige DeSorbo,” he claimed.

McGee appeared on “Summer House” during its first two seasons before leaving the show ahead of Season 3.

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DeSorbo Joined ‘Summer House’ After Casting Shakeup

Stephen McGee went on to explain that Bravo originally planned to cast two completely different women for Season 3 before their involvement suddenly fell apart.

According to him, another reality television personality tipped him off about the incoming cast additions. 

“Another Bravo star that works in real estate, who was on ‘Million Dollar Listing,’ told me that these girls were coming in for Season 3 from their office,” the 36-year-old explained.

After hearing about the rumored casting, McGee said he began looking into their backgrounds himself. 

“So, I had done a little background digging, and found that they had done some pro-Donald Trump stuff and I leaked that to Girl With No Job, on her Facebook group,” he alleged.

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The fallout allegedly led to major behind-the-scenes changes before cameras even started rolling. “They dropped out before filming started,” McGee added. “Then, they added in Paige DeSorbo.”

Paige DeSorbo officially joined “Summer House” during Season 3 alongside Hannah Berner, who later became her co-host on the wildly successful “Giggly Squad” podcast.

Paige DeSorbo Quickly Became One Of Bravo’s Biggest Stars

While Berner exited “Summer House” after two seasons following multiple conflicts with cast members, DeSorbo’s popularity only continued to grow.

The fashion influencer quickly became one of the show’s most talked-about personalities and remained a central figure for years.

In June 2025, however, DeSorbo shocked fans when she announced she was leaving the series. 

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“Being part of this show has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life – the friendships, the drama, the giggles. all unforgettable,” she wrote in an emotional Instagram Story statement per Page Six.

“I never could’ve imagined what this journey would turn into — and how many of you would be along for the ride.” 

The 33-year-old also assured followers that her departure would not mean a complete disappearance from public life.

“And you haven’t seen the last of me, I promise. So much more to do together, but for now you know you can always find me and Daphne in my bed,” she continued. The reality star’s reference to her beloved cat quickly became a fan-favorite detail online.

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DeSorbo Later Opened Up About Leaving Reality TV Behind

Months after leaving “Summer House,” Paige DeSorbo spoke more candidly about why she felt it was finally time to move on from the Bravo franchise.

During a September 2025 interview with Byrdie, alongside Berner, the podcast host admitted she no longer felt capable of fully participating in the series as producers expected.

“I know I would’ve been doing a disservice to [the show],” DeSorbo explained, adding, “They expect a certain level of showing up, and I couldn’t give them that.”

She also reflected on the emotional impact that reality television can have over time, admitting the experience can blur the line between entertainment and real life.

“Being on reality TV, there’s a level — this is a harsh word — of, like, brainwashing,” she confessed. “That’s not real life.”

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DeSorbo then joked about how reality TV can make ordinary thoughts seem dramatically amplified. “You’re not stopping people on the street and being like, ‘I just had a thought that I hate my boyfriend,’” she added.

Paige DeSorbo Says Chronic Health Issue Has Affected Her Dating Life

Away from her reality TV career, DeSorbo has been fighting a recurring health battle. As The Blast reported in February, the TV personality revealed that she suffers from chronic urinary tract infections that have repeatedly disrupted her life. 

During an appearance on the “Broad Ideas” podcast, DeSorbo described the issue as “debilitating” and admitted the infections became so frequent that they even affected her dating life. 

DeSorbo explained that if she ever slept with someone and developed a UTI afterward, she would immediately decide “we’re not compatible.” 

She revealed that she typically experienced a painful flare-up “every four months” and had spent years trying different remedies to reduce the problem.  

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At the time of the interview, DeSorbo said she had started a new regimen involving cranberry supplements and oregano supplements twice daily and noted that, for the first time in a while, she had gone longer than expected without getting another infection. 

She also joked that she did not want to “jinx it” by speaking publicly about the improvement. The Bravo personality added that chronic UTIs were exhausting and insisted “UTIs need a cure,” while podcast cohost Olivia Allen sympathized by sharing her own similar experiences.