Mimic

For the last 20 years the Alien formula of beast on the rampage has been thrilling and boring moviegoers with equal measure. There are the highs such as Aliens, Alien: Resurrection, Predator and The Thing. Then there are the lows: Just about ever bargain bin horror thriller from 1979 to present day. Mimic falls somewhere inbetween. Not a bad film by any means. With a good solid cast including Mira Sorvino and Jeremy Northam (always a personal favourite as he was the first movie star I interviewed way back in 1992). The story centres on a couple of bug scientists who released a mutated insect form into the New York underground to kill cockroaches carrying a virulent disease. Fast forward a few months and the creatures have started adapting a little too well to its environment. Many insects have this ability but few manage to grow to the size of a man and then start attaining homo sapien characterisations. So, inevitably, our heroes end up in the NY subways, chasing around while the mutant bugs start baying for blood. Thrown into the mix is stereotypical NY guard Charles S Dutton (still licking his wounds after the dreadful Alien 3) and a little shoe shine boy and his loving father. Mimic is not an original film by any means but it has a certain class all of its own thanks to some atmospheric direction from Guillermo del Toro, the director of cult classic, Cronos. Some fair special affects, good lighting and an okay soundtrack make this an engaging Saturday night video treat which won't win any awards but does pass the time. Perhaps the best thing about the movie is that the finale is fully rounded, a plot point which adds much weight to the flimsy drama that has gone before.

Writing credits Matt Greenberg

Genre: Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller

Tagline: For thousands of years, man has been evolution's greatest creation... until now.

Plot Outline: Three years ago entomologist Dr. Susan Tyler genetically created an insect to kill cockroaches carrying a virulent disease, now the insects are out to destroy their only predator, mankind!

Cast (in credits order) Mira Sorvino .... Susan Tyler

Jeremy Northam .... Peter Mann

Alexander Goodwin .... Chuy

Giancarlo Giannini .... Manny

Charles Dutton .... Leonard (as Charles S. Dutton)

Josh Brolin .... Josh

Alix Koromzay .... Remy

F. Murray Abraham .... Dr. Gates

James Costa .... Ricky

Javon Barnwell .... Davis

Norman Reedus .... Jeremy

Pak-Kwong Ho .... Preacher