When a press release went out a year or two ago for Toby Wilkins’ Splinter, it carried a sentence that has since had many B-D readers questioning the film. “Wilkins’ CGI skills will be put to use with the virus monster in SPLINTER, which twists the bodies of its prey into the shapes best suited to carry out its unrelenting desire to infect more victims and kill again.” Wilkins is an avid reader of the site and asked me to help him respond to the fans who were nervous about the use of a CG monster, which apparently is NOT the case! Read on for his open letter and check out SPLINTER in theaters October 31st.
From Toby Wilkins:

“I keep reading reports like the one that just appeared on Bloody-Disgusting.com, containing statements similar to the following:

“Wilkins’ CGI skills will be put to use with the virus monster in the film.”

This is probably a fair guess based on my background, and I am flattered that anyone might be interested in how I made a living while pursuing my career as a director, but the truth with regards to “Splinter” is quite the contrary. Throughout my career I have consistently steered away from the use of visual effects when making films, choosing that kind of digital trickery only when essential the story, and even then only as a last resort.

Like horror fans the world over, I often find that the use of CGI creatures can ruin the experience for me. Undermining any sense of fear by shattering the illusion of reality. So when it came time to bring the “Splinter” creature to the screen, it was of primary importance that we do it practically, in-camera, and without the use of CGI.

I also feel that it’s unlikely an actor will give his or her best performance against a greenscreen, or opposite a threat that is non-existent, or staring at a tennis ball on a stick. In my opinion there is little about that experience that is rewarding for an actor, or a director, and ultimately the results are seldom satisfying for the audience.

It is a matter of great pride for us that with the combined efforts of the team at Quantum Creation FX, some very hard working physical performers, and the skills of cinematographer Nelson Cragg and editor David Maurer, we managed to use practically no CGI in the creation of the creatures in “Splinter”. It’s my belief that this decision enabled us to bring to the film a creature that is not just terrifying, but terrifyingly real.

T.“