Director Juel Taylor mixes blaxploitation with sci-fi conspiracy thrills to create a compelling and enthralling narrative in They Cloned Tyrone. The film, which hits select theaters and Netflix this Friday, is elevated by a strong trio of lead performances, clever storytelling that keeps you guessing, and genre-blending that gives the film a unique identity.
The film’s opening is surprising in how it doesn’t make its intentions too clear. It feels like the opening of an A24 character drama where viewers get sort of immersed in the habits and personalities of the world and the characters within it – which is both a gift and a curse. For some, a more character-driven opening helps them become more invested in the film’s three main characters – drug-hustler Fontaine (John Boyega), pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx), and one of Charles’ more independent pros Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris). On the other hand, the opening’s unclear direction and slow pacing could cause some viewers to struggle to stay engaged with what’s happening – which can be deadly for any original film hitting Netflix.
It’s no secret that even the best movies can get buried on Netflix if they struggle to hook viewers in the early moments. They Cloned Tyrone’s more slow-moving and less narrative-focused opening could make it a quick turn off for some. However, They Cloned Tyrone is 100% worth the wait as it doesn’t take too long for the story to become clear and hook viewers through a shocking moment. For the most part, Fontaine drives the narrative as viewers follow him in his daily habits and conflicts around his neighborhood. Eventually though, tensions rise too high, and he can’t escape the fatal consequences of the life he leads as a drug-hustler. However, this is far from the end for him and when he suddenly finds himself reawakening the next morning, the film instantly starts to pique your interest.
It’s here where They Cloned Tyrone goes from being a simple character drama to a captivating conspiracy thriller as Fontaine becomes aware of something fishy in his neighborhood. This leads him to investigate his suspicions with Charles and Yo-Yo to ultimately uncover a horrifying truth about the neighborhood and their reality. Honestly, the best way to go into They Cloned Tyrone is knowing as little as possible since it expertly delivers a slow-building mystery with some deeply shocking turns. As this trio explores more into this hidden entity they find and begin to discover their influence and impact on the culture and people of their neighborhood, the film will leave viewers hanging off every new thing this trio finds.
The way this faction controls the people of the Glen is legitimately terrifying in how sneaky and discreet it is, and its impact on the Black culture and even stereotypes in this community is haunting. It’s honestly a great showing of how governing entities look down on the Black community and view them more as experimental test subjects and disposable rather than humans with real worth. They Cloned Tyrone feels like a direct reaction to the looming feelings within the Black community after the injustices and discrimination that’s been targeted towards them in both politics and everyday life – which is why this trio’s reactions feel so warranted and real.
There are a lot of great themes surrounding controlling destiny and identity that are well-executed and emotional at times – especially for Fontaine grappling with the truth behind his existence. The film honestly feels like a fantastic mix of Get Out and Under the Silver Lake at times, and it’s a big reason why viewers will be hooked into this experience until the very end. It’s what makes this story and the discoveries so compelling and its ties to reality make it much deeper and more thought-provoking.
They Cloned Tyrone entrenches viewers into a conspiracy-mystery that’s tough to turn away from and luckily the lead trio of characters are just as engaging. Boyega continues to show himself to be a heavily underrated talent; with the level of emotion, determination, and connective thought-process he displays throughout. A big part of what makes Fontaine discovering the truth so intriguing and impactful is Boyega’s performance. It hits raw emotion and realness that viewers will connect with. Foxx and Parris also bring some great performances that help elevate some of the blaxploitation vibes of the film as well as their respective characters’ personal arcs.
Along with the aesthetics and technical style of the film evoking the feelings of a blaxploitation thriller, Charles and Yo-Yo deliver comedic lines and personalities that feel right at home with the genre. While not all the one-liners and jokes hit, most of them do and its thanks in large part to Foxx and Parris bringing some great charm to their characters. Charles and Yo-Yo also have some interesting arcs that play well in the film’s shift into its finale. They’re essentially two characters who are only focused on self-interests at first but take on more active roles in taking back their community and stopping this controlling force. Their distinctive turns are very fulfilling to see and greatly tie to the more community-driven message that’s displayed in the film’s awesome finale.
The finale of They Cloned Tyrone is exactly what fans would want it to be — a series of fun, chaotic clashes that help drive home the film’s themes and messaging about rising together to take back our lives. The moments of Fontaine coming face to face with the person behind it all is incredibly captivating. There are some emotional beats to this final encounter that make it so much more engaging to see play out and the way Fontaine turns the tables is pretty epic. Even the true end of the film finds ways to leave viewers laughing through how the group’s discoveries become publicized and excited for the potential of the story continuing.
Taylor and company have given Netflix subscribers quite the gem to watch. It features a very talented cast, shocking twists and turns, and a fun style that balances humor and thrills making for a riveting and surprisingly deep experience. It even boasts potential to be a unique film franchise for Netflix to have under its belt and very well could-be one of the strongest original films on the platform this year.
