Cloned: The Recreator Chronicles had all the makings of a dud, as we begin on a rainy night at a lake house, with a guy peeing, and something rattling in a well outside. The top blows off amidst lightning, CGI sparks emit from the opening, and — BOOM — an arm shoots out of the muck.
But from then on, Cloned: The Recreator Chronicles surprises with some decent character work, dialogue and a compelling plot, even if the mechanics are wonky. The actors are, for the most part, likable, and I have to commend any movie where poop and toilets are used as a plot device.
Three college-age teenagers row their way to Brewster Island, for some good old-fashioned camping. Meet Tracy, Craig and Derek. Tracy is Craig’s girlfriend, back from (community) college, Derek is Craig’s best friend (he’s heading to Afghanistan), and Craig is the unsure leading man. Tracy tries to lighten things up, but the boys are morose, for some reason. It’s clear the trio haven’t hung out together in awhile, and that they’re going different directions is a foregone conclusion in the effective first scene.
They arrive on the beach to set up camp, and already Tracy needs to go to the bathroom. Women. While it was cliche and kind of lame that she complains about the bathroom situation while camping, I totally dug the 5 step pooping in the woods lesson from Derek, and the shovel and TP combo she hands her. Our boy knows how to poop in the woods like a professional (so he’d make a good soldier, apparently). Tracy, instead of popping a squat, goes up to the prominent lake house we saw pre-credits (the only one on the entire island, apparently). As she (cutely) talks to herself and investigates whether anyone’s at home, finds the keys and makes her way to the bathroom, interspersed are quick cuts of the murderous happenings of the night before, when the inhabitants of the house were attacked… by themselves.
Because, apparently clones attract lightning, that night, a massive, dangerous storm lights up the beach, and the three of them book it to the safety of the conveniently placed lake house. Of course, the next morning, the murderous clones return home. Just when you think they’re going to be the main antagonists (or at least last awhile), three naked versions of our main characters save the day. Or do they?
From there, it’s clear that these clones are “improved” versions of the originals (we learn this through a thrilling game of Scrabble), and that they have nefarious intentions is obvious. But, the interactions between the six of them, the constant uneasy tension and the different dynamics that play out, are what makes this movie work. Craig and Tracy were clearly having trouble, their long distance relationship not working and filled with lies (and not long for this world?), and they find some willing listeners in…themselves. Poor Derek finds himself the third wheel in both awkward romantic entanglements, which may be for the best. There are also some cool tidbits sprinkled throughout, like that these kids have glow sticks rather than flashlights to light hard to reach places. It seems annoying, but authentic at the same time.
This isn’t high brow sci-fi by any means, but the chemistry between the actors is there, and the ability to play with two separate (but the same) love triangles is a unique concept. Some things certainly rubbed me the wrong way however, like the code words selected in the climactic scene (it’s a certain traveler/children’s game). They couldn’t be more obvious, and while it served the narrative, only idiots would’ve chosen such obvious connecting “code words” to signify their identity. Of course, in a story where clones are created from the DNA of their fecal matter, sent with each flush to the aforementioned well (which should be creating new duplicates every visit to the crapper), I shouldn’t be complaining about that.
While you know where Cloned: The Recreator Chronicles is going, and that the inevitable “switching” will occur, you don’t know who, or how many, will survive until the end.
July 15, 2013 By Andy Greene