Produced in 2008 on what looks to be a rather sizeable budget (or at the very least, something out of the reach of your standard Sci Fi Channel Original Movie, which ironically is where the movie will probably end up after some extensive cuts), “Mutant Chronicles” by Simon Hunter (“Lighthouse”) spent most of its first year on the shelf as the studio tried to figure out what to do with it. The film was released in Europe and Video-on-Demand before finally making its Stateside theatrical bow last week, and is not expected to do very much at the box office. TV advertisement for the film is nil, and what’s more, Internet advertisement (usually the way to go with these types of genre movies) is nearly non-existent, especially for what is potentially such a geek-friendly movie. To be sure, the studio’s apprehension is understandable, as the film is not everyone’s cup of tea, and will probably turn off more viewers than it converts. But for the converted (you will either fall into this category or be turned off before the first 10 minutes are up), “Mutant Chronicles” is a damn satisfying sci-fi action movie that hits all the right notes.
“Mutant Chronicles” offers up a futuristic world set in the year 2707, which looks to be patterned after post-WWI Europe rather than anything overly futuristic. “Blade Runner” this ain’t, though it is similarly depressing, dank, and drab. As the film opens, voiceover narration by Brother Samuel (Ron Perlman) informs us that the planet has been separated by four warring corporations that are constantly at war. During one such conflict, an ancient seal that had housed an alien device that fell to Earth thousands of years ago is broken, unleashing a mutant horde into the world. The mutants are deformed, mindless beings that seek only to kill and drag their victims back to the alien device, buried deep in the Earth in order to convert them into mutants. It takes less than six weeks for the mighty armies of the planet’s mega corporations to fall, leading Perlman’s priest to take a small team of soldiers down into the bowels of the Earth to destroy the machine as per an ancient, thousand-year old prophecy.
The priest’s first recruit is hardened veteran Mitch Hunter (Thomas Jane), a soldier who identifies his job as “effing sh-t up”. And he does it very well, too, though seemingly without much enthusiasm. Then again, he does carry around the dog tags of all his dead soldiers, so maybe he does have a soft spot that he just hides very well. Hunter and Brother Samuel are joined by Devon Aoki, Benno Furmann, and “Hellboy 2’s” Anna Walton, who plays a highly skilled priestess swordswoman. There are other members of the expedition, but they’re little more than cannon fodder with singular personalities, there to be picked off as the group journeys toward its target. It’s not too much of a stretch to say that Philip Eisner’s screenplay is not exactly deep when it comes to characterization. Except for a couple of characters (Jane’s Hunter, Walton’s swordswoman), you’ll probably not care too much as the soldiers start dropping like flies along the way.
Much of what makes “Mutant Chronicles” a worthwhile lazy Sunday afternoon rental is the film’s anachronistic (and some would say, jumbled) look. As the film opens, you could almost believe that you’re watching a WWI-set movie, complete with trench warfare, military uniforms, and good ol fashion mustard gas attacks. That is, until phosphorus cannons start firing and slightly futuristic looking machineguns begin tearing soldiers apart. Much of the film is shot in front of a green screen, but there are some visually creative production designs that were built from scratch. Much of the film’s world is powered by steampunk tech that, though incredibly illogical (Really? These steam-powered ships can even break orbit and travel across space?), is nevertheless very cool to look at. It’s all very impractical, of course, but once you buy into what the movie is selling, you can’t help but enjoy all the visual gimmicks Hunter and company throw at the screen.
The other thing to note about “Mutant Chronicles” is that it’s a very violent film. Of course, much of the violence is tempered by the fact that the film makes extensive use of CGI blood, bullets, and an astoundingly endless supply of face stabbings. Since the mutants’ only real weapon is their right arm, which have been turned into what amounts to stabbing (and hooking) lances the alien device; their primary offensive ability is impaling their victims. More often than not, those spiky arms tend to go into victim’s faces, and Hunter isn’t shy about driving (pardon the pun) the point home that these mutant bastards are to be feared when they get up close and personal. There’s no real explanation why the alien device, which appears to be very technologically advance, is only capable of turning their soldiers into zombies with stabbing utensils, as you would think this is highly primitive for any type of combat other than close range. Then again, since the mutants have easily conquered the planet in less than six weeks (or so we’re told), maybe those aliens are smarter than we think.
Thomas Jane’s Mitch Hunter is the strong silent type with a hard-to-get sense of humor that will turn a lot of people off. He’s not exactly the warmest or cuddliest of leading men, but Jane is nevertheless very entertaining in the gruff role. My favorite scene has to be toward the end, when Hunter is asked by a dying comrade to finish him off. Hunter refuses, which leads the dying friend to begin reminiscing about old times, and before he even finishes the words, “Remember when…” Hunter has nonchalantly shot him through the head. Great stuff. The film’s other important role is by Ron Perlman, who does his usual stellar job, though I wasn’t sure why his character was sporting what sounds like an Irish accent early in the film, but seem to lose it as the film went on. John Malkovich has a brief cameo early on where in true Malkovich form, manages to be both creepy and thoughtful.
The rest of the cast includes genre fave Sean Pertwee (“Dog Soldiers”), who disappears from the movie very early only; though we should be thankful he did show up again near the end. The rest of the cast does well with their limited roles, including Devon Aoki (“2 Fast 2 Furious”) and Anna Walton as the females of the group. Luis Echegaray as the loud, token Spanish character is amusing in spurts, and Steve Toussaint is the token black character, though just as amusingly it’s not your usual loudmouth, “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” role. Pras (of the hip-hop group The Fugees) has a brief but nice cameo as a ship Captain flying one of those weird, steam-powered contraptions that doesn’t look like it should even have gotten off the ground, much less be capable of flying through the air at all.
“Mutant Chronicles” is definitely not a movie for everyone. Your casual moviegoer will balk at the film’s dark tones and its odd and very impractical world. The film’s steampunk tech will also be a pretty big obstacle for viewers not used to such visually geeky conceits. Also, the characters are nowhere near fleshed out, with only Mitch Hunter getting some bit of pathos before the group goes on their suicide mission to save the world. In a way, you can see why the film was made and why director Simon Hunter decided to go in the direction he did – it’s just a very cool film if you give it half a chance, or if you’re of the mentality to buy into the film’s world. I was able to do so very early on and as a result found the film very easy to like. Yeah, it’s pretty bloody from frame one, but maybe that’s just how I like my sci-fi/futuristic zombie movies.
Simon Hunter (director) / Philip Eisner (screenplay)
CAST: Thomas Jane … Maj. ‘Mitch’ Hunter
Ron Perlman … Brother Samuel
Devon Aoki … Cpl. Valerie Duval
Sean Pertwee … Capt. Nathan Rooker
Benno Fürmann … Lt. Maximillian von Steiner
John Malkovich … Constantine
Anna Walton … Severian
