Splinter (2008, USA) C-82m. SCOPE ** D: Toby Wilkins. Starring Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Wagner, Rachel Kerbs. Not-bad but barely original horror movie set in and around a gas station where two young lovers have been taken hostage by a pair of criminals. Too bad, there's also an infectious splinter-like virus around. Some nice gore effects, but movie never rises to full-fledged excitement. Has been compared to George Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978), but that's too much praise for it. Performances are fairly good, direction a bit too hectic. Director Wilkins also coscripted.