Mimic is a 1997 American science fiction horror film directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Charles S. Dutton, Josh Brolin, and Giancarlo Giannini. The film was released in the United States on August 22, 1997. It tells the story of a group of scientists who discover a species of cockroaches that have evolved to mimic humans in order to survive in New York City.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised del Toro’s direction and the acting, while others criticized the film’s pacing and lack of scares. However, the film was a box office success, grossing $25 million worldwide.
Mimic is one of the classier A-level Hollywood horror movies to come out of the 1990’s. Directed by maestro Guillermo del Toro (same guy who directed the excellent Pan’s Labyrinth), it’s a dark, foreboding movie with strong central characters and a finely tuned pace.
The cast of Mimic all manage to pull off a convincing show with regards to their characters. Charles S Dutton plays the kinda cranky cop who reluctantly gets involved in the operation to work out just what is going on underneath the streets of New York. As usual he puts in a strong show. Mira Sorvino and Jeremy Northam are the same, perfectly suited for their parts and bring out a lot of the finer nuances of their characters. Quality stuff.
The special effects have aged well. Some of the bug flying scenes do look a little bit CGI like, but considering this movie is nearly 13 years old they look damn good considering. There’s quite a few ‘ewww’ sequences in Mimic, most movies with bugs as the bad guys usually do though, but it’s good to see the movie doesn’t let us down in this regard. There ‘s really not that many death scenes in Mimic but what is there is done well, nothing over the top, it’s kept well within the domain of believability.
The overall pacing is good, it doesn’t take long for the intrigue and suspense to build up, as we move from one horrible environment to the other, leading up to a nerve jangling finale that does the whole movie justice. In the end Mimic is a joy to watch and serves as poster for the way good horror movies should be made. So if you haven’t checked this movie out yet do yourself and grab this one as fast as you can. Nuff said.
Mimic is a well-crafted film that benefits from a strong cast and direction by Guillermo del Toro. The film is creepy and atmospheric, with some truly scary moments. However, the film is not without its flaws. The pacing is slow at times, and the film is not as scary as it could be. Nonetheless, Mimic is a solid film that is worth watching.
Synopsis
Mimic is a 1997 American science fiction horror film directed by Guillermo del Toro, starring Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam and Josh Brolin. The film follows a group of scientists who, in an attempt to stop the spread of a deadly disease that is wiping out New York City’s children, create a genetically engineered insect that can mimic human beings.
The film opens with a group of school children being killed by a disease that is sweeping through New York City. A team of scientists, led by Dr. Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino), create a genetically engineered insect that can mimic human beings. The insect, known as the Judas Breed, is released into the city in an attempt to stop the disease.
The Judas Breed is successful in stopping the disease, but it soon becomes clear that the insects are not content with mimicking humans. They begin to kill people, and the city is plunged into chaos. The scientists must find a way to stop the Judas Breed before it destroys the city.
The film is a suspenseful and scary tale of science gone wrong. It is also a fascinating look at the potential dangers of genetic engineering.
Movie Details
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writers: Donald A. Wollheim, Matthew Robbins, Guillermo del Toro
Actors: Mira Sorvino, Charles S Dutton, Giancarlo Giannini, Josh Brolin
Release Year: 1997