Mutant Chronicles - Movie Review and Synopsis

At the end of the Ice Age, The Machine came from the outer space with the purpose to change men into mutants. However, a hero defeated the device and a great seal was laid over The Machine. In 2707, the depleted world is ruled by four Corporations: Mishima, Bauhaus, Capitol and Imperial that are in constant war. During a battle between Capitol and Bauhaus, the great seal is broken and The Machine works again transforming soldiers and civilians in hordes of mutants. A small part of the population escapes to Mars, leaving millions of people behind. The man of faith and leader of an ancient brotherhood Brother Samuel is a believer of God and the Chronicles, a bible about the mutants. With the city under siege of the mutants, he visits the Corporations’ leader Constantine asking for an aircraft and twenty men for a suicide mission to destroy The Machine, planting a bomb and a detonator following the knowledge of the Chronicles. He recruits the tough Major ‘Mitch’ Hunter; the Bauhaus Lieutenant Maximillian von Steiner; the keeper of the Chronicles Severian that is under a vow of silence; the gorgeous and lethal Corporal Valerie Duval; Corporal Juba Kim Wu; Captain John McGuire; and Corporal Jesus ‘El Jesus’ de Barrera. Together they become the last hope of Earth against the evil mutants.

Maybe all the people who hated the Mutant Chronicles cut which screened at Comic-Con and elsewhere last year will regroup for version two; Magnolia Pictures provided director Simon Hunter with the resources to tinker with his film for this limited release (note that the VOD premiere occurs/occurred one month prior to the theatrical bow). Will this engage the critics? No way, but perhaps more fans will get behind the revamped picture, and allow this entire universe to live on either in DVD sequels, webisodes, what have you. It’s the kind of prospect that serves as a custom fit for the industry-savvy Thomas Jane, who perhaps should create his own distribution company?

Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout.

Director: Simon Hunter
Stars: Thomas Jane, Ron Perlman, Devon Aoki
Studio: Magnolia Pictures
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi