In They Cloned Tyrone, when drug dealer, Fontaine is shot and killed in a motel car park, he is surprised to wake up the next morning without a scratch on him. Shrugging it off as a terrible dream, Fontaine goes about his business, which includes collecting money from local pimp, Slick Charles.
But when Fontaine arrives at Slick Charles’ door, he discovers his ‘death’ was no dream. During the previous night, bullets were indeed fired at him, Fontaine was shot multiple times, and he did appear to die.
Trying to figure out what happened, Fontaine teams up with Slick Charles, as well as prostitute, Yo-Yo, to uncover the truth about his supposed murder. But what he soon discovers is something equally disturbing involving a secret underground laboratory and a collection of clones.
Directed and co-written by Juel Taylor, They Cloned Tyrone is a sci-fi movie starring John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx. The film is available to stream on Netflix from today (following a limited theatrical run last week), and is a mind-bending picture infused with dashes of satire and a great soundtrack.
Taking inspiration from Blaxploitation movies of the 1970s, as well as paranoid pictures such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, They Cloned Tyrone follows the three leads as they find themselves in the midst of a sprawling mystery which appears to have suddenly engulfed their lives. The further they investigate the mystery, the deeper it appears to go, with significant ramifications for their local community.
As the title suggests, cloning is a part of the plot, but there’s a little more to the head-scratchin’ storyline than just multiple versions of Fontaine. There is also a super-slick script packed with some sizzling lines, as well as a terrific trio of performances from Boyega, Parris, and Foxx, which really makes this movie fly.
I’ll make it clear here: They Cloned Tyrone is a strong movie. The sci-fi plot offers up enough intrigue to keep things cooking nicely, while the staging, the lighting, the music, and the general design aesthetic adds a cool vibe to proceedings.
But what makes this movie really shine is the interaction between the core cast. Sure, the central plot is easy to get caught up in, but it’s the inter-play between Boyega, Parris, and Foxx which really holds your attention.
There are sections of this movie where it’s not very clear where the story is going, but during these periods it doesn’t seem to matter, because being in the company of Boyega, Parris, and Foxx is more than enough. Watching all three investigate the mystery adds some fun to the film, and creates a likeable ride until some of the darker material begins to kick in during the film’s second half.
At various points in the movie, They Cloned Tyrone serves up comedy, mystery, drama, and more. This film is very much a blend of different genres, and while it might seem baffling and weird in places, there is a lot to latch onto.
I’m not entirely convinced it will work for everyone, but some will really like what’s on offer. The picture has ‘cult movie’ written all over it, so I expect it to buck the trend of most Netflix movies, by having a long shelf life.
The film is also a good showcase for director/co-writer Juel Taylor, who demonstrates an ability to throw various ideas together without making a hash of it. Taylor has few directing gigs on his CV, but here he utilises his experience in writing, directing, and sound to show what he can accomplish.
Quirky, a little bonkers, but not too difficult to get lost in, They Cloned Tyrone is an intriguing picture. Some may find it a little too chaotic for their tastes, but those who stick with it will discover something with a great deal of substance.
Boyega, Parris, and Foxx are all excellent, while the cool, sultry feel of the movie and the Blaxploitation influences make it stand out. If you want something different this weekend, then They Cloned Tyrone certainly can provide.
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