Mimic (Mimic (DVD))

Name: Silent Bob

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Product:	Mimic (DVD)
Date:	21/10/00 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: a decent attempt at a semi new script

Disadvantages: Runof the mill horror

Once Scream had hit the screen and was uch a big hit millions of script writers must of dusted down those old horror films they had written hoping to get it made on the bandwagon - horror was in. Some were good, most were bad but Mimic is quite indifferent. Mimic is a 90's horror movie, a pace paced, stylish and witty take on the genre and that sometimes lets it down, but be warned if you havent seen the movie and dont want even the little plot spoilers then stop reading now.

A killer disease is sweeping America, staring in Manhattan it is killing children by the thousands, the disease is carried by the cockroach. Dr. Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) has developed a cure, but it not for the children to take, she has genetically modified the Judas cockroach so it will attract and eat all other breed. Despite warnings from all other scientists the roach is released into the Manhattan sewers with a special gene included that kills all the new breed within sox months. But we know that wouldn't be the case.

Then three years later the police have to deal with a group of weird murders including horrible mutilations and people just disappearing. Dr. Tyler sees these reports and find evidence that the Judas roach is still alive, even worse it has mutated, grown bigger and smarter and now they have swiped out all the other cockroaches they are starting to find other things to eat. The worse thing is that because of the mutation and the evolution the Judas roach has learnt the ability to mimic its prey and hence disguise itself as human.

Mimc plays on atmosphere and suspense, the film is largely filmed in the dark quite like the style of The Relic. Combine this with the lighting effects and the well designed sets, the at times chilling score and the decent speical effects it all adds up to a decent entry in the horror world. To try and cover some of the flaws, like whole scenes take drag on too long, they have edited the rest of the movie so it runs at a g
reat speed, thus trying to drag the viewer away from the flaws and back to the action events taking place. The whole sewer stalk sequence is lifted straight of Alien, with the only difference being the location the basic idea is the same, but if it works in Hollywood they will re use it again and again I suppose.

SPOILERS the biggest problem I have with the film is the ending, with the fire that just happens to burn all evidence of the bug and hence ties up all the loose ends and leaves the scientists totally blame free. If thta ending is just not pure Hollywood then I dont know what is. Another flaw is the character of Susan Tyler, OK so she kills the bugs in the end, but she also released them in to the sewers without proper testing and they wernet even finished totally. And in one scene she manages to out run one of the Judas roaches when in all other scenes they can run like the speed of light. On the positive side the script is decent at creates enough tension and astmosphere for the viewers to griw quite anxious for the poor ending. The production level in the film must of also been quite high as, we see a subway station that neither too dark or claustrophobic but still is quite scary.

Another highlight of the movie is the creation of the computer generated insects and the detail in the way they move around in our human world, as well as their own little corner of the dark. They seamlessly blend with the live action footage, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere throughout the film. Rick Lazzarini designed the mutated insects and his work is exceptional. While mimicking humans they still remain completely insectoid and the way Lazzarini tackled the problem is amazing. Although the creatures move in dark areas for most of the time, hiding various aspects of their features, they also work nicely in lit subway tunnels and streets. When finally fully revealed, the creatures are well thought-out, with lush coloration and very interestinga
nd frightening features, creating an exceedingly satisfying and memorable moment of movie horror and as a nice side effect of this excellent creature design, Mimic goes almost completely without the ultra-slime found in its predecessors.

The intense musical score by Marco Beltrami helps immensely to create an atmosphere of suspense and horror. Mimic is actually a pretty enjoyable, if not stupid, thrilling and gripping movie. It is stylish, delivers a lot of good looking sets, and is one of the more enjoyable and memorable horror entries of the last years.

Summary: