Mimic DVD: Review By Shelley

THE CAST:

No Oscar winning performances in this film but it does have a rather impressive cast including Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Giancarlo Giannini, Charles S. Dutton, Josh Brolin and F. Murray Abraham. All are convincing in their roles and each made the most out of what they were given.

DIRECTION, CINEMATOGRAPHY AND SPECIAL EFFECTS:

Mimic has a good, dark look with rich photography and impressive creature design. Considering it was made in 1997, the special effects are done on a grand scale and look for most part authentic. There are a couple parts toward the end it is obvious effects were superimposed onto the film, but that was the technology of the time period.

Directed by the talented Guillermo del Toro who continually clashed with one of the producers, Bob Weinstein. Bob was often on the set making unreasonable demands therefore del Toro pretty much disowned the film and has never again worked with the Weinsteins. It begs the question, how much better would this film had been if Bob Weinstein had stayed off set and let Guillermo do what he does best.

THE GOOD:

Mimic is one of those films that are all about atmosphere which is done stylishly well. From the first frame it is dark, brooding and you almost instantly get the feeling something bad is coming. Even though it is reminiscent of a few past horror films, Alien and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, it has its own effective storyline even though it may not be the most original. The film is well paced and characters are developed quickly but appropriately.

THE BAD:

Predictability and lack of originality make Mimic an above average film instead of an excellent ‘cult’ favorite. The plot is decent overall but gets muddled at points causing the viewer to wish they would just get on with it.

THE STORY (may contain spoilers):

Strickler’s Disease is killing all of Manhattan’s children and is being spread by the common c*ckroach. To stop this epidemic, the CDC turn to entomologist, Susan Tyler who creates the ‘Judas Breed’, a new breed of species of insect designed to kill off all existing carriers of the disease and then die off. Three years after she succeeds in stopping the spread of the fated disease, she discovers the Judas Breed may have not died off as designed. Now they have multiplied through several generations and become something she never thought possible, large predatory insects with the capability of mimicking humans.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

It is rather disappointing the only special features on the widescreen DVD are trailers when this is a perfect movie to have many including creature development etc.

REPLAY VALUE:

Excellent replay value for Mimic, I get this DVD out several times a year and is a very good film to watch on dark, rainy evenings.

BOTTOM LINE:

In 1997 I do not think this film could have been considered a ‘B-list’ film, but today it fits into that category quite nicely. It has retained a bit of popularity and is often on cable and broadcast television. If you like ‘creature features’ or movies about bugs, then this one is for you. I do feel the film is underrated and a lot better than people give it credit for. No, I would not put it up there with the greats but definitely an above average film.

Thanks for reading.