Saat des Wahnsinns - Clonus Horror

The beginning of this movie had me doubting that it would be little more than a typical B sci-fi flick. But, as it progressed I began to get interested and I saw the whole thing through. The premise is interesting, original, and has the makings of making a classic. Alas, it instead ended up a mediocre movie, done in by the usual factors which turn a potentially good movie into a bad movie (bad acting, low budget etc.). I'm interested to see how this would turn out if it were remade with good actors and a big hollywood budget.

This low budget thriller is a pretty decent B movie with a great original premise.

The government has been running a clone farm for many years and now one of the clones has escaped into the outside world.

A clever premise, some solid direction, and a good cast help to make this film a pretty compelling sci-fi thriller. The Clonus Horror is an effectively chilling film that examines the theme of what it is to be human and just how the advance of science can ultimately turn to a violation of human life. The direction of Robert Fiveson is well-done, as he creates some nicely nightmarish sequences to give this film a creepy edge, as though the subject matter of the movie alone isn't unsettling enough. There's also some gruesome scenes as well. Kudos also go to a stirring, operatic music score.

The cast delivers good on their performances and features some great veteran actors like Dick Sargent, Peter Graves, and Keenan Wynn.

While The Clonus Horror may not have the big budget of The Island, it's as equally thought-provoking and disturbing. Worth seeking out, especially for film buffs.

*** out of ****

The average 2.1 rating tells me that most of the people who rated this movie have only seen the Mystery Science Theater version. True, it was a poorly executed low budget 70s horror film but it had a good plot; good enough to be remade as THE ISLAND (2005).

As a 70s horror flick it is obviously violent and cheesy, but the unique plot, involving a secret clone factory, by itself keeps one's interest. In better hands it could have been a good movie, and THE ISLAND is, in fact, a good uncredited remake of this one. Consequently, the movie has historical interest, particularly considering that cloning as a reality was still many decades off back then.

The directing is obviously mediocre. The violence was designed for shock (although it is still tame compared to a Tarantino movie or even a lot of mainstream action or horror flicks of this generation). I cannot openly recommend the movie but do deny that it belongs in the "so bad its good" category. It is, perhaps, more of a guilty pleasure inasmuch as no one wants to admit liking the movie, but I can think of many many movies (including a list of theatrical releases from this year) which are far worse.

It is not something you can expect to keep in your home video library but it is a unique 70s horror flick that was the "inspiration" for THE ISLAND. It give it 6 out of 10 because of the story and ingenuity, otherwise it would have gotten a 5 at best.

This is one great little genre movie from the '70's, that features a great and original concept, though it might sound familiar to those who have seen Michael Bay's "The Island".

The movie is set at an enclosed camp were people's clones live and train themselves to be in perfect condition, while they are being oblivious to the fact that they are actually clones, who only exist in case the person they are a clone of need a new organ. Sounds familiar already? Well it should, since this movie almost entirely features the same premise as the 2005 movie "The Island". It even resulted in a law suit, which eventually got settled.

So you could say "The Clonus Horror" was a movie that was far ahead of its time. And its entire concept does play out well and originally. It's one of those typical '70's science-fiction movies that play on people's paranoia. It sets things up nicely and the movie is taking some good thriller approaches to its story as well.

Only thing that really works against the movie is its low budget. It makes the movie at times come across as being a bit clumsily, or even laughable. Also the acting isn't always of the highest order, though I liked some of its supporting cast.

It's low budget also doesn't make this the most spectacular genre film but there is plenty of other stuff to compensate for this. It's story alone is good enough to carry the entire movie through and makes this sort of a must-see as well for the lovers of '70's science-fiction.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

I have seen this movie a bunch of times. I like the idea of a movie about a colony of clones being used for spare parts. The cloning and what it was used for make this a good Science Fiction movie. The innocence of the clones in contrast to what they are being used for is tragic. The story of what one of the clones does when he finds out this terrible secret kept me interested until the conclusion. Some of the characters are silly and strange but it never really gets in the way of the story.