Andover (film)

Lore & Background

The film follows genetics professor Adam Slope, who proposes to carefree glass blower Dawn. After they marry and take out high life insurance policies on each other, Dawn dies in a fire at her studio. Grief-stricken, Adam clones her using hairs from her hairbrush, with help from his grad student Emma. The clones have various problems, and Adam becomes obsessed with perfecting them, killing off those that do not match the original. A suspicious life insurance agent investigates, leading to a confrontation where Adam poisons the agent and clones him to avoid detection. Eventually, Adam gives up on his mission, and the final clone of Dawn, raised by her parents, rejects him. Adam and Emma get together, while Clone Adam and Clone Dawn fall in love and marry.

Reader's Guide

Andover is notable for blending science fiction themes with romantic comedy, exploring grief and obsession through cloning. The film was produced under the SAG ultra-low-budget agreement for under $300,000 and shot in three weeks in Los Angeles, despite being set in Andover, Massachusetts. It received mixed reviews, with critics noting its unconventional plot and mechanical execution. The film won several awards at the Orlando Film Festival, including Best Feature Film and Audience Choice Award, and Jennifer Finnigan won Best Actor at the Boston Science Fiction Film Festival. The cast includes real-life married couple Jonathan Silverman and Jennifer Finnigan, as well as a cameo by Jonathan Lipnicki. The soundtrack features songs by The Pouts featuring Nadia Lanfranconi.

Did You Know?

• Jonathan Silverman and Jennifer Finnigan are married in real life.
• The film was shot in three weeks for under $300,000 under the SAG ultra-low-budget agreement.
• Thomas Q. Jones, a former running back for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, plays Dawn's ex-boyfriend Wyatt.
• Jennifer Finnigan won the Best Actor Award at the Boston Science Fiction Film Festival for her role.