Parts: The Clonus Horror (1979)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

An absolute waste of money

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

This movie has the feel of a pre "The Brood" era David Cronenberg film and I honestly prefer this over Rabid or Fast Company (I can't include the one with the parasites that turns an apartment complex into sex maniacs. That premise is too funny to not enjoy). Clonus Horror also known as Parts is a decent low budget horror movie. The horror is more plot driven. The story centers around Richard a clone who lived his entire life on a clone farm with hundreds of others but because his mind is more developed than others, he is able to comprehend that something is not right about the place. He begins to ask questions. The authorities decide to deal with him but before they can, he learns the purpose of his existence and the fate of all the others who were supposed to go to America which is an Utopian concept. But Richard escapes to America and he tries to convince the person he is the clone of to help stop "Clonus" the clone farm.Many no doubt, like me, were introduced to this by the MST3K episode where they riffed this movie. That version of the movie cuts out the most disturbing scenes completely. Add them in, and the movie is effective in the horror sense. A lot of people rip the acting and there is some poor acting but much of the characters are near vegetable clones too and they do come across as such with their acting so I consider them successful. Richard is confused and scared and Tim Donnelly manages that well. The supporting cast has a mix of mid level stars and TV actors given a shot to appear in a feature film. This is a low budget movie and the limitations that brings are apparent but despite the handicap, this movie comes across better in this category (low budget sci fi/horror). Pacing is a little of an issue in my view and that's a common problem with these types of movies. Many today, will find it very slow, but a lot movies in the 70's or earlier were much like this and it was common for the time, especially on the lower budget films.I do recommend this if you are a fan of sci fi/horror films of this era.

Decent idea. Worst camera/cinematography, crappy acting/dialogue/characters, poor TV quality This must be the worst camera/cinematography. Shaky crappy camera zooms. The worst.The story is OK but very slow. Poor TV quality, with crappy acting and dialogue. Even with a low budge, they just needed to spend more time on the screenplay.Rating a D, or a 2 just for the idea.Decent idea. Worst camera/cinematography, crappy acting/dialogue/characters, poor TV quality This must be the worst camera/cinematography. Shaky crappy camera zooms. The worst.The story is OK but very slow. Poor TV quality, with crappy acting and dialogue. Even with a low budge, they just needed to spend more time on the screenplay.Rating a D, or a 2 just for the idea.

Clonus is an isolated, rigidly closed off, and closely monitored facility where young, fit, healthy clones of wealthy, powerful people are created and raised for the specific purpose of serving as donors for an illicit underground black market organ ring whose central function is to keep its rich, privileged clientèle forever robust and youthful through the immoral and inhumane use of said clones. The clones are made docile, complacent and cooperative via brainwashing (they're told that when they reach a certain age they'll leave the compound and find freedom in America, which is a particularly subversive bit of mind-twisting misinformation), strict supervision and lobotomies. Timothy Donnelly gives a fine, affecting performance as Richard, an unusually bright and perceptive clone who discovers what's going on, steals an incriminating videotape, and escapes from the compound so he can alert the outside world.A sterling example of how low-budget, independently produced films have the creative freedom to tackle a pertinent issue and incisively examine said issue's multi-layered ethical implications, "Parts: The Clonus Horror" makes for a splendidly chilling and provocative sci-fi/horror medical conspiracy thriller. Under Robert Fiveson's crisp, assured, clearly focused direction, which skillfully milks the rich subtext of Ron Smith and Bob Sullivan's insidious, sharply intelligent, uncomfortably prescient and penetrating script for maximum unease, this laudably audacious and decisive film dares to question the validity of certain cherished American institutions, mainly the medical community, the government and the upper class. The topical subject matter bracingly addresses such pressing themes as how cloning robs human beings of their basic worth and subsequently reduces them to pieces of meat (the clones are called such impersonal pronouns as "it," "them," and "thing"), conformity vs. individuality, technology intruding on one's privacy (everything the clones do gets recorded by hidden cameras), authoritarianism suppressing independence, how our caste system favors those with lots of money and clout, man's desire to conquer mortality, and even fate vs. free will. Given the recent controversy surrounding DNA breakthroughs and minute surveillance cameras popping up all over the place, these issues today now possess a more timely and unnerving resonance.Moreover, the acting is uniformly excellent, with especially bang-up turns by Dick Sargent as the cold, brilliant, unfeeling megalomaniacal smarmbag doctor behind the whole evil plot, Peter Graves as a crooked, unctuous ultra-conservative Republican presidential candidate who assists in the cover-up, Frank Ashmore as the mysterious millionaire who finances the sinister operation, Keenan Wynn as a kindly, helpful retired newspaper reporter, Lurene Tuttle as Wynn's feisty, excitable wife, and Paulette Breen as a fetching blonde clone Richard falls in love with. Further complimented by Max Beaufort's slick, fluid cinematography, and Hal David Schudson's spooky score (the Gregorian chant singing is quite creepy), "Parts: The Clonus Horror" certainly doesn't deserve its current "what the hell?" camp reputation. I personally consider it to be a very underrated little sleeper, a remarkably potent and confrontational affair that scores extra points for its sheer boldness and vehemently skeptical "nothing is what it seems" point of view.

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 ****