There are films that settle for pointing out flaws in the social fabric, merely caricaturing inequalities. “They Cloned Tyrone!”, however, takes a different path. Under the guidance of Juel Taylor, the narrative avoids didacticism and resists easy solutions. The screenplay, crafted by Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, opts for a metalinguistic and multi-referential approach, pushing the boundaries of suspense, satire, and science fiction. The film recalls the sharpness of Jordan Peele, yet subverts that influence by weaving a critique that flirts with John Carpenter’s fantastic elements and Harold Ramis’s existential irony, without ever sacrificing critical depth for aesthetics.
Rather than delivering a straightforward denunciation, Taylor constructs a labyrinth of symbols and references. The character Slick Charles, portrayed with biting wit by Jamie Foxx, embodies the unreliable narrator, whose stories about African-American cultural icons act as a distorted mirror of reality. Alongside him, Fontaine, played by John Boyega, emerges as a walking enigma, embedded in a daily life saturated with pop culture signs and temporal ambiguities. The young Junebug serves as a catalyst for absurdity, introducing layers of uncertainty that enrich the plot.
Visual staging is another cornerstone of the film: Ken Seng’s cinematography shifts between nostalgic tones and oppressive atmospheres, transporting the viewer to a fictional past that invades the present. The soundtrack, composed by Desmond Murray and Pierre Charles, heightens this sense of displacement, forging a link between retro aesthetics and contemporary tensions. Within this hybrid setting, the dialogues between Yo-Yo, played by Teyonah Parris, and Charles amplify the sense of being trapped in a cycle of repetitions and partial revelations.
The narrative’s climax unfolds in a religious temple, a space of faith turned into a center for genetic manipulation. There, the discovery of a conspiracy involving human cloning calls into question the authenticity of identities and the very notion of free will. The inclusion of Erykah Badu’s voice, shrouded in mystery, crowns the atmosphere of unease. Far from offering an answer, “They Cloned Tyrone!” throws us to the edge of an ontological abyss, where reality seems like an imperfect simulation, manipulated and endlessly replicated.
Film: They Cloned Tyrone
Director: Juel Taylor
Year: 2023
Genres: Mystery/Thriller/Comedy
Rating: 9/10