Geek Review: Swan Song (Apple TV+)

If given the opportunity to clone yourself, would you do it?

The idea of cloning and artificial intelligence (AI) replacing humans after they are dead and gone has been toyed with in Hollywood for a very long time. From the 2001 A.I. Artificial Intelligence to the popular British series, Black Mirror, there is plenty of content that details the good and the ugly consequences that come from cloning a loved one. Oftentimes, the discussion surrounds the AI’s experience in ‘becoming human’, if these AIs can actually replicate a human connection, and how surviving friends and family members deal with the grief of losing a loved one.

Apple TV+’s Swan Song adds to the same conversation but introduces a brand new perspective altogether. 

A new sci-fi drama film starring Green Book’s Mahershala Ali and No Time To Die’s Naomie Harris, Swan Song allows viewers to experience what it’s like to be the loved one who is dying and is faced with the dilemma of whether to clone oneself or not. 

Set some time in the future, designer Cameron (Ali) is dying from a terminal illness that his wife Poppy (Harris) is unaware of. Having seen how his wife deals terribly with grief, Cameron makes a decision to clone himself so that she won’t have to suffer yet another loss. As his AI clone Jack begins to substitute him and create improvements in his love, family, and career life, Cameron finds himself unable to let go and attempts to fight back for a life that was once his.

Swan Song delves deep into the theme of grief. First, there’s Cameron grieving the memories, time and experiences he’s had with his loved ones. Although not explicitly mentioned, director Ben Clearly shows this grief through flashbacks and Cameron’s constant rumination of the past. 

Another wave of grief hits Cameron when he witnesses his AI Jack take over his life. Viewing his family through high-tech contact lenses that Jack wears at home forces Cameron to see what his life could’ve been if he wasn’t dying. It’s first-class torture for a dying person to say the least. This grief becomes the main point of conflict as Cameron wrestles to assert dominance over his AI. 

It’s here where viewers see Cameron and Jack fight over who or what is “real”. Jack is a clone, but he has the same experiences, memories, characteristics and emotions as Cameron does and fully believes that he IS Cameron. Cameron, on the other hand, is forced to face his own inner demons and fears through Jack who holds a mirror to his face and reflects all the deep-seeded shadow work and healing that Cameron has been avoiding all these years. 

Although the main point of conflict in the film, this portion isn’t fistfights and yelling. Rather, the conflict is shown through the burst of emotions and the mental toll it has on the protagonists of the story so if you’re keen on some clone action, Swan Song will not meet that expectation. 

Tonally, Swan Song is solemn. It’s a film that feels heavy and despite some heart-warming moments, it’s still a movie that can bring you to (sad) tears. It’s definitely not a film that you’ll watch if you want a pick me up or have a good laugh. Neither will it be a film you’ll catch if you want to be transported into a brand new world full of wonder. Despite it being a sci-fi movie due to the advancements of technology we see here, Swan Song is very much a human story. 

Pace-wise, Swan Song is slow. This works both against and for the film’s favour. As mentioned, there isn’t much action to Swan Song. The film focuses on our protagonists’ experiences, thoughts and emotions so there’s a lot more talking and contemplation than anything actually happening. The slow pace works for such a film as it allows viewers to relate with the character even more. Everyone dies one day and seeing the motions of what it’s like feels like we’re on a deeply emotional and personal journey. If one is experiencing some sort of grief as well, Swan Song hits harder. 

The downside of such a slow pace is that it could bore viewers who are not emotionally invested in the story and its characters. After all, Cameron is a regular dad with a wife and kid who’s got a date with death. Despite the new perspective we’re receiving here, AI cloning and death are not exactly unexplored territories in Hollywood over the past 20 years. Running for two hours, Swan Song could either be an emotional ride that feels just right, or a movie that takes too long to reach its inevitable and rather predictable ending. 

Speaking of endings, the last grief that viewers witness and contemplate is Poppy’s. Poppy hates the idea of AI and cloning, and seeing how she is completely unaware of Cameron’s plans is a pretty painful experience to watch. We also see how Poppy typically deals with grief through Cameron’s flashbacks and memories. Poppy’s grief is the main catalyst for the entire experiment and is our protagonist’s main motivation. Although Harris’ character doesn’t have as much screen time and is mainly seen through Cameron’s eyes, she’s a well-developed character that is ever-changing and growing – a testament to how great the writing in Swan Song is.

Of course, Ali’s performance as both Cameron and Jack takes the cake. Ali is fast becoming a sought-after actor following his appearances in films like Green Book and Moonlight. Soon joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Blade, Swan Song is a great example of the range and emotions he’s capable of bringing to his current and future characters. In Swan Song, Ali plays two characters who are essentially the same, but are both experiencing different stages of their life – one is dying, the other is starting to live. Watching Ali portray and navigate Cameron and Jack in the one scene combined is chilling. There’s no limit to Ali’s talents and in contradiction to the film’s title, this isn’t Ali’s swan song – in fact, it’s only the beginning for what lies ahead and we can’t wait. 

All in all, Swan Song is a sci-fi drama film that adds to the conversation on AI and cloning. It focuses less on sci-fi worldbuilding and plays heavily on emotions and what it’s like to be human. Poignant, beautiful, and with a lead star as talented as Mahershala Ali, Swan Song is a must-watch if you’re down to get deep on what it’s like to be plagued with grief. 

Swan Song premieres 17 December on Apple TV+.