Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
Replicas is a science fiction film that stars Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, John Wick) as a scientist named Will Foster, who is trying to crack the mystery of transferring human consciousness from a dead or dying body over to a robotic host. He works for a company called Bionyne Corporation and lives in Puerto Rico. After many failed attempts, then his entire family is killed in a car accident, out of his mind with grief and willing to play God, Foster steals cloning pods from Bionyne and clones his family members and intends to transfer the memories of each one into the new host bodies. Complications arise when he realizes he does not have enough pods and must choose which one of his children he will not bring back.
Under The Lens: Story and Ethics
Story: I liked that Replicas did not go the tired and worn route of “Evil clones”, and showed his family being healthy and normal, it was also clever how they weaved in a tale of Government conspiracy and robotics. In the end, the story had some twists and turns I did not see coming and actually ended in a satisfying way. For example, Foster being unable to defeat the sinister forces threatening his family uploads his consciousness into a robotic body that then comes to fight for his family allowing him time to escape. In the end we see two “Will Fosters” the robotic one continuing the work Foster started, and the “Real” Foster living in seclusion with his family.
Ethics: Replicas asked some very sobering questions, such as is it right to bring someone back from the dead? Should man has this kind of power? and if this power is created who will really control it? After Will brings his family back, he tried to hide the accident from them, having removed it from their new brains, however, his wife begins to have phantom pain in the area she was fatally injured, and also having horrible flashbacks. The picture also showed the emotional anguish Will goes through having to choose which of his children to bring back, after choosing he then has to wipe the child from memory. However, his lie unravels when his family begins to remember the sister and daughter they had, who is no longer there. The questions the picture raised made one think, and I found myself pondering them long after the credits rolled.
Highlights
For being rather low budget, the picture had very decent special effects.
The last ending shot, which shows that the robotic Will Foster is carrying on the cloning work was well done, seeing a silhouette that turns to show a robot wearing a suit and tie was both funny and unnerving.
Something to think about
Do you think its ethical to bring back loved ones who have died as clones? Would you be willing to do this if someone you loved had and you had the chance to bring them back?
Conclusion
Overall Replicas was a solid film that addressed some interesting ideas, it took a worn idea about cloning and bringing back people from the dead, and added a new and fresh twist. With some creepy scenes and a climax that delved into science fiction, there is enough to please most viewers.