(United States/1979)
Reviewed By-Kit Gavin (Feb 2005) Directed by Robert S Fiveson Starring Peter Graves, Keenan Wynn, Tim Donnelly, Dick Sargent and Paulette Breen. Source: Mondo Macabro [United States] DVD NTSC Region 0 (2005)
Clonus is a covert complex hidden away in the California countryside. Within the complex are a large group of attractive young men and women, all dressed in shorts and t-shirts, running, biking, track and field, whilst being closely supervised by doctors and a leader called Dr. Jameson [Sargent]. Despite all this healthy living, there is something clearly amiss, and turns out to be part of a conspiracy by a large Government corporation called the Clonus Corporation, who’s business is in cloning human beings, creating a race of clones
However the "clones" are not programmed with sufficient intelligence and are kept under control owing to this lacking in their make up. However they are encouraged to believe that by keeping in tip-top physical condition that once should they meet the grade that they will be worthy of going into "America", purportedly a Shangri-la of sorts, "an ultimate ideal, the land of beauty where all your dreams come true" where before going there will be a party given for you before all the other clones, before being lead into seeming freedom. However, it turns out that in fact for most of the clones on their way to "America", it is far from being what it is purported to be. This "freedom" turns out to be untrue, and "America" really consists of being placed on an operating table, pumped full of chemicals and being frozen down, essentially killed off. Afterwards, the body of the clone is placed in a body bag and stored away in suspended animation. Each of the still "living" clones however have one of their ears pierced, and a distinctive marker behind them.
However two clones, one male Richard Knight Jr. (Tim Donnelly) and one female Lena (Paulette Breen), seemingly of higher intelligence than the rest start to wonder what is going on, fall in love and become inquisitive after having discovered an empty beer can, which leads to problems within the Clonus Corporation who have been keeping each of the clones under close supervision. After having tried to find an answer unsuccessfully through the free information services around the colony, Richard asks Dr. Jameson who furnishes him with an unsatisfactory response to his question so he starts to snoop around the compound and discovers the horrific truth behind the Corporation. Clones are in fact being used to political ends in the outside world. Richard however escapes from Clonus, crossing the desert, to discover the outside world, and the truth about the elusive "America". There he discovers that he, and everyone else is a clone, except for those in charge at the Corporation.
Casting in the movie is actually very good, from familiar face from the hit comedy Airplane Peter Graves as a politician to various veteran actors such as Keenan Wynn and Dick Sargent as figures of authority within the corrupt Clonus Corperation. The two leads, youngish Tim Donnelly and the younger beautiful Paulette Breen (in her big screen debut) are often criticized for not being strong enough leads, and being cast aside for being annoying or stupid and unsympathetic, which leads the film to follow in their footsteps. It is important to remember the roles which the two of them are playing, i.e. clones, who are not meant to be possessing high intelligence but are being programmed as political tools with a means to an end. Also in the casting amongst the clones is Eileen Dietz who played the double, uncredited, for Linda Blair, in The Exorcist, during the majority of the possession scenes. The clones themselves however are distinguished mainly through their pierced ears and the device attached to them. Indeed the piercing of the clones ears, together with the somewhat "lost sheep" look about many of them is an implicit reminded that they are much like cattle, or sheep, being held in a farm, all to serve a purpose and ultimately leading to a tragic fate, nigh near none seem aware of.
The film has been released under various different titles, from Parts, to The Clonus Horror, to the incarnation under review under the solo Clonus monicker (which is apparently director Fiveson’s preferred titling for his film. The film was apparently lampooned and mocked by Mystery Science Theater 3000, which is fate which has befallen films such as the dreadful Manos the Hands of Fate, but at the same time cult classics like Mario Bava’s Diabolik. Without a doubt, Clonus falls into the latter category of being in the better films which have been ridiculed, which seems unfair, as having watched the film without having seen the version which mocked it, it is actually enjoyable and quite chilling. The premise behind the film is really rather unsettling and uncomfortable, Clonus certainly has some interesting ideas and political ideas which it wishes to convey, all of this having been made in the aftermath of the disaster of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.
Clonus is an intelligent, thought provoking and entertaining dark thriller, despite there being the occasional lapse of logic here and there. Also the film has somewhat dated in terms of it’s look, from the fashions, ideas, and set design, but again given the timescale in which the film was made, this is hardly surprising. Despite that, the theme is still disturbing, even today. It was also the first film to approach the controversial theme of human cloning which has been used in a number of horror films subsequent to it’s release. The film is subtle in it’s underlying political messages, perhaps too subtle for some to understand and appreciate and therefore has perhaps been unfairly dismissed. Indeed, in the film, The Island, it sounds like the whole concept has been swiped and used in a larger m a large big budget all glossed out Hollywood production.
Both audio and video are superb, the DVD having been mastered from the original elements and soundtrack, and the print is the best it has ever looked, given that the film was originally a low budget production. There is slight grain at times but this really is barely noticeable. Also the sound is crisp and clear and which really adds to the atmosphere of the film too. Indeed the film was originally nominated for a prize, The Saturn Award, for the Best Production under $1,000,000 in 1980. The deluxe treatment which has been given to this release infact shows clearly some of the problems which faced the production whilst it was being made but this is in no way a disclaimer. The print is anamorphic and has been correctly letterboxed in it’s OAR of 1:66:1.
Extras start off with an entertainingly silly trailer, presented full frame, but enjoyable all the same and in just as good condition. The trailer does reveal some of the more key moments, but by no means all of them for the film, and ends with a slightly campy coda. Watch it and find out. Also included are production photos for the film, presumably from Fiveson’s own collection, as well video art covers from around the world. However the two main extras both involve the participation of director Fiveson. The first is an audio commentary, once again headed by MM’s front man Pete Tombs and the director. Once again, Tombs displays his knowledge and enthusiasm for world cinema, as comfortable discussing a low budget American movie with it’s director, as he has been previously with such folks as Luigi Cozzi discussing his masterpiece giallo, The Killer Must Kill Again and discussing Asian Horror during the commentary on The Living Corpse. Tombs never overkills the commentary by allowing his own ego to step in as has been the case in some other companies’ commentary tracks, asking intelligent thoughtful questions, allowing the director to have his full say, and still allowing both commentators to express fondness for the film under review.
The best extra however is that of "Parts of a Life", which is a full interview on camera with Fiveson, running over half an hour, intermingled with footage from the film and Fiveson discussing his life, his career, and his earlier films. Some people may find that the fact that the documentary is all encompassing of Fiveson’s life and work to be too long, rather than to be the brief clipped presentations by companies such as Blue Underground, but I step in and commend Mondo Macabro for having created this overview of Fiveson and his life and career. Where else are we going to learn anything about the director and his influences, thoughts and career? Too many featurettes spend little time focusing on background and other aspects than the film in hand and fans, enthusiasts, film historians generally get to enjoy more than a few brief snippets of thoughts. This way, with more facts and information, the featurette is more likely to be revisited by viewers. A big thumbs up.
The extras are rounded off with a Mondo Macabro show reel of releases, past and upcoming. The show reel commences with two further upcoming releases, Paul Naschy’s Panic Beats and a nunsploitation film entitled Satanico Pandemonium, both of which I really look forward to having in my collection. Bizarrely the show reel ends abruptly with Dangerous Seductress, rather than the usual Girl Slaves which has ended it in times previous. No matter really, as it’s just a show reel and anyone who has other MM releases (if not, why not?!?) will be aware of the other films included.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed both the film, not having seen it before and certainly worth revisiting, and also the extras too. Packaging describes the film as being "a pulse pounding horror film", this may be a little of an exaggeration but none the less it is wholly enjoyable, quality and approachable entertainment for the horror film fan, similar in idea and terror to films such as Michael Crichton’s Coma which has a similar medical hell atmosphere about it. Indeed, Clonus is somewhat more accessible to a mainstream audience, for those not indoctrinated as yet in the joys of European or Indonesian cinema, also available on the Mondo Macabro label. Mondo Macabro have once again created a hugely entertaining and enjoyable disc of an unusual little film, and to be honest, there has yet to be a release by this solid company that has yet to disappoint me in terms of quality, attention or affection placed in it’s release. Continuing to release films, either obscure or just not given a second thought, and transforming them into cult gems is certainly an achievement to be commended. A message to Pete Tombs and Andy Starke, keep up the fantastic work! For everyone else reading this review, go pick up this disc. A most enjoyable merge of sci-fi and horror, and solid entertainment from start to finish, all nicely and well presented.
Story: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Audio: 4 BITCH SLAPS Video: 4 BITCH SLAPS Extras: 4 BITCH SLAPS Overall: 4 BITCH SLAPS
