Day of the Clones (2024)

⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) Mixed but Positive: Day of the Clones is an ambitious sci-fi horror that succeeds in many areas but falters in others. At its core, the film tells a compelling story about the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition, but its uneven pacing and character development hold it back from reaching its full potential. The premise—a group of survivors trapped in a farmhouse, hunted by clones created by one of their own—immediately draws viewers into the post-apocalyptic nightmare. Johnny Topping and Laura Montgomery Bennett carry much of the emotional weight as Andrew and Lindsey, a couple struggling not only with external threats but also the internal pressures of guilt and survival. Topping’s performance is solid, particularly as Andrew wrestles with the unintended consequences of his cloning experiments. The tension between protecting loved ones and facing the reality of his past gives the film its moral center. One of the film’s strongest assets is its atmosphere. Director Eric Ian Steele makes the most of the stark Manchester winter, capturing desolate, pandemic-emptied streets that enhance the film’s apocalyptic mood. The film feels eerily real, thanks to the isolated, cold backdrop. This adds depth to the tension, especially as the group’s paranoia grows in their claustrophobic surroundings. Where Day of the Clones stumbles is in its pacing. The film starts strong, establishing its characters and premise, but the middle act drags, losing some of the momentum that the earlier tension built up. A few scenes feel unnecessarily prolonged, and some character interactions lack the depth to sustain audience investment. However, the final third brings the action and suspense back to life, culminating in a thrilling climax that raises the stakes. Ultimately, Day of the Clones stands as a bold and original entry in the sci-fi horror genre, offering plenty for fans of dystopian survival stories. It draws clear inspiration from genre classics like The Thing and Dawn of the Dead, blending their claustrophobic horror with fresh, thought-provoking themes about cloning, survival, and humanity's overreach. Though it may stumble in its execution, the film’s atmosphere and underlying ethical questions make it worth watching.