They Cloned Tyrone is available to stream exclusively on Netflix from Friday 21st July 2023
Synopsis
A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx) onto the trail of a nefarious government experience conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper.
Review
They Cloned Tyrone stands as an assured and accomplished feature film debut from director Juel Taylor.
John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris form a terrific trio, with exquisite chemistry that feels effortless. Playing a hustler, pimp and sex worker respectively, the strong performances of the three, alongside the supporting cast, are testament to Taylor’s fine direction and co-writing capability. The writing and the worldbuilding enables the characters to feel genuine and, due to some fine performances, it is easy to believe that these characters existed as real people long before the camera starts rolling. As a white British person, some of the jokes, quips and general language used by the characters felt a little inaccessible or unfamiliar, but due to the fascinating storytelling and acting, this never manifested in disengagement or detachment. Regardless, no matter your demographic, it is a joy to watch these three characters exist, interact and fall down the proverbial rabbit hole, gathering evidence and putting the pieces together, with a number of needle drops for good measure.
Following their experiences in Star Wars and Marvel, Boyega and Parris thrive in the hybrid nature of their roles, effortlessly blending the multifaceted components of the film as an action comedy and a heartfelt drama, with a hint of sci-fi mystery. Here, the amount of action felt masterfully controlled by Taylor, knowing when to incorporate high octane energy and when to slow things down and give the characters space to breathe, inhabit the world and reflect, although it is almost a shame that there were not more moments of outright action given how capable the leads were in this regard.
On this note, the cinematography is simply sublime; it is almost a shame that Taylor’s debut feature is a Netflix original because seeing some of these scenes on the silver screen would have been an absolute treat. Director of Photography Ken Seng, who has worked previously on Deadpool and Love, Death and Robots, effectively employs a number of techniques, both classic and high-tech, to keep the film feeling fresh and engaging. Several times throughout the film, there are long takes that truly immerse the viewer into the action, particularly in extended conversations. Equally, the sound design and editing are worthy of attention; the action is well executed, shot and compiled. There are several recurring visual and audial motifs that serve interesting narrative functions, although the amount that some of these are utilised does somewhat hinder the pacing. Nonetheless, the overall cut contributes to an overwhelmingly well-paced feature.
Comparisons to other contemporary works by black directors are inevitable. The film will inevitably draw comparisons with Jordan Peele’s filmography, especially Get Out and Us, as well as other offbeat and mind-bending movies like Boots Riley’s Sorry To Bother You. However, They Cloned Tyrone does more than enough to elevate itself beyond being reductive or repetitive, although it would certainly make for a brilliant companion piece to such cinematic instalments. Indeed, the film serves as an homage to, and example of, Blaxploitation movies, whilst simultaneously satirising the genre. As a kaleidoscope of genre, the film undoubtedly feels very self-aware of genre, understanding its role and purpose and includes a few fun twists on conventions of its multitude of genres. Keep an eye out for a unique twist on the classic horror horde!
Verdict
As director Taylor says, the film explores “the systemic roots of struggle and the role of privilege and how different circumstances can lead to different outcomes” though a fictional sci-fi mystery lens. Ultimately, They Cloned Tyrone is an intriguing mystery film carried by three brilliant central performances and effortlessly infused with action, comedy and heart, and full of narrative twists and turns that keep you wanting more.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
