Closer to God

Released Jul 3, 2015

1h 21m

Sci-Fi

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

56%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

29%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

A brilliant geneticist (Jeremy Childs) ignites a firestorm of controversy when he clones the first human being, while a dark secret threatens to destroy everything he's worked for.

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Andy Webster

New York Times

Mr. Senese, who wrote the script, has created a cautionary yarn with echoes of David Cronenberg's "The Brood" and an exaggerated sense of its own topical urgency.

Jul 2, 2015

Full Review

Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

With admirable economy, writer-director Billy Senese has crafted an eerie piece that's as much an effective cautionary tale as it is a stirring film of ideas - and ideals.

Jul 2, 2015

Full Review

Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

Senese raises weighty issues about the ethics of genetic engineering, about the boundaries between science and religion, test tubes and the Old Testament.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 2, 2015

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Tackles a controversial subject through the lens of sci-fi that manages to honor both fantastical and real-world concerns and hopes of what could be the next chapter in human evolution.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 20, 2023

Full Review

Deirdre Crimmins

Film Thrills

Though the premise of the film is clearly a classic there are some surprises to be had while the doctor plays God.

Aug 21, 2018

Full Review

Sherilyn Connelly

SF Weekly

Shot in chilly, wintry tones, Closer to God can be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unfettered progress.

Dec 31, 2015

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troy k

Started out as an interesting scifi, but turned into some terrible, kind of, horror movie...skip it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"This is just the beginning, isn't it ? ...." This being a kind of modern version of "Frankenstein", is the least you can say. Even the name of the doctor in question is identical with that of Frankenstein. The only difference with the classic movie is that new life isn't created by sewing together human body parts, but by making use of modern day technology. Cloning a human being is the central topic in this low-budget sci-fi horror. Don't expect an alien looking creature as in "Splice". This cloned human being looks perfectly normal and healthy. It's not extremely creepy and intense at all. It's the aspect of cloning and the controversy arising on this subject which are developed the most. The fuss, the media attention and the protest groups who are opposed to these practices and consider this more as a blasphemy than scientific progress, demand the most attention. The angry mob at the immense gate of Dr. Reed's residence, is more terrifying than the additional secret that Victor is hiding on his domain. The movie fades from hight-tech SF to social drama. And ultimately it ends as a kind of psychopathic slasher. At first this surprises you, but eventually it looks rather routinely and not really innovative. What remains is a not so original low-budget monster story, embellished with high-tech-looking situations. A highly motivated geneticist who puts more energy into his work than in his family life, resulting in a wife who feels abandoned. The secret that painstakingly is separated from the outside world, is hidden from sight for a considerable time or displayed as a hazy shape in the background. It felt like an attempt to keep the suspense alive and postpone the disclosure as long as possible. Perhaps there should be restrictions and guidelines when it comes to cloning, so that we don't end up with an uncontrollable process where superior specimen are being created. Or an illegal trade is being initiated, producing organs on demand. That a religious aspect also comes with it, is quite evident. Though it's more of a dogmatic religious plea that no one should acquire the authority to create something. God has the exclusive rights for that, so they say. But then one must be able to admit that there are also advantages. Improving the quality of human life and removing those terrible diseases from the world. And there are also disadvantages. What to do with the failures ? And who's going to pass judgment on that matter ? This diversity of views is the heart and essence of this rather modest SF horror story. The whole movie feels like a creation out of the 70's. The decor and presentation, the style of interactions, the overall atmosphere and the meager horror elements. Eventually, it all feels like a typical movie that you can see on Syfy. In the 80s it would fit in between "The Entity" and "Critters" during a VHS marathon at the weekend. The only similarity between Jeremy Childs and the Frankenstein monster, is his imposing stature. A walking wardrobe with a facial expression that shows no emotion. Not even while handling the cloned baby. It's all done on automatic pilot without much feelings. The subject of this movie and the reaction of the community comes across as being weighty. However, the film on itself, is nothing but a lightweight. More reviews here : http://bit.ly/1KIdQMT

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

coma inducing garbage. I wish I had a "clone" to view this crud for me. Beware!!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Analogies to Frankenstein, with the villagers having traded pitchforks for picket signs.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A pretty solid thriller which tackles some difficult moral questions surrounding advance science and particularly genetic testing and cloning. It loses its way a little in the third act but for the most part, a fascinating, tight knit drama.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie was horrible! I couldn't even fall asleep it was so boring.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

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Billy Senese

Director

Jeremy Childs

Victor

Shelean Newman

Mary

Shannon Hoppe

Claire

David Alford

Richard

Isaac Disney

Ethan

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Synopsis

A brilliant geneticist (Jeremy Childs) ignites a firestorm of controversy when he clones the first human being, while a dark secret threatens to destroy everything he's worked for.

Director: Billy Senese
Producer: Billy Senese, Erika Senese
Screenwriter: Billy Senese
Distributor: Breaking Glass Pictures, Uncork'd Entertainment
Production Co: LC Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 3, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2017
Runtime: 1h 21m

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