Mimic

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Mimic

July 10th 2009 05:08

I saw Mimic (1997) when it came out and found it to be a riveting and fascinating tale of the dangerous warning on genetic tampering. At the time I had a quiet crush on Mira Sorvino, but didn’t register that the director Guillermo del Toro was the same man who’d made the equally fascinating and nightmarish Cronos (1993). Watching Mimic again recently the now familiar love of mutations and darkness, the moist and sticky elements of nightmares that del Toro delves into with glee are all too clear, however overall the movie doesn’t hold up quite as well as I remembered.

A virulent disease carried by the common (American) cockroach is wiping out the children of Manhattan. Dr. Peter Mann (Jeremy Northam) and his girlfriend, entomologist Dr. Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) have found a solution. Tyler develops a genetic cockroach mutation that secretes a fluid which kills off the roach population of the city. Although designed to die after one generation the mutant insect thrives, unbeknown to Tyler and the rest of the human inhabitants of the city. Three years later mutilated bodies are discovered around the city. Tyler and Mann are called back in when it’s revealed that the mutant strain hasn’t died off, but as mutated again into evolved into something much more monstrous and deadly.

Mira Sorvino as Dr. Susan Tyler

Based on a short story by Donald A. Wollheim (an uncredited John Sayles worked as script doctor) Mimic does feel padded out to encompass a feature length narrative and it feels claustrophobic too. Much of the movie’s action takes place in the NYC subway system, in particular the derelict stations, such as Armory. There are only a handful of key characters; apart from the doctors, there’s shoe-shiner Manny (Giancarlo Giannini), NYC cop Leonard (Charles Dutton), and young Chuy (Alexander Goodwin). Josh Brolin provides some wry support as a forensic investigator and F. Murray Abraham pops in and out as Tyler’s entomologist mentor.

Jeremy Northam as Dr. Peter Mann

Giancarlo Giannini as Manny

Big props go to special effects make-up whiz Rob Bottin for his glorious mutant roach design – which is referred to as Long John in the credits - and creature goo effects. The brilliant mimic design that the mutant cockroaches use; their wings folding forward and connecting forming the basis of a human face, is one of the movie’s stand-out features. Guillermo cleverly keeps them in silhouette for much of the movie’s first third, relying on their creepy scratching sounds (that ghastly click-clicking that anyone who’s lived in a cockroach-infested shared accommodation student flat will know what I’m talking about). The mutant insects in full flight is CGI work and it holds up pretty well twelve years down the track, considering the advances that technology has been making.

I wish Mira Sorvino’s acting had held up like I hoped. Jeremy Northam doesn’t help matters. The pair of them are acting like they’d rather be elsewhere, or pretending they’re in another kind of movie entirely. Mira’s performance in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, which was released the same year, is of a much higher calibre. Young Alexander Goodwin and Josh Brolin add strong flavour though.

Josh Brolin perfects the glazed look of death

Mimic will one of those big-budget B-movies that will be remade in about ten years (probably less). The concept of insects vs. humans is as old a horror-science fiction concept as the ants on the hill. Have a spunky up-and-coming female actor in the lead role, and an up-and-coming young kid actor in the jeopardy role and you’ve got yourself a Hollywood vehicle winner.

Susan inspects one of her monsters

Mimic was the movie that made Americans pay attention to this hugely imaginative, robust Mexican, but Guillermo disowned the movie after major creative clashes with the Weinstein producers. I think this is evident in the final product. Still Guillermo now has the clout to command what projects he chooses to do, such as helming the two upcoming Hobbit movies. He has eight features currently in development, including remakes of Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I know I go on and on about my fear and loathing of remakes, but Guillermo Frankenstein Jekyll and Hyde = exciting, intense, visceral (and hopefully adult) stuff!

Rob Bottin's design for Long John

NB: In the original ending Dr. Susan Tyler and Chuy come up from the subway into Grand Central Terminal only to be confronted by hundreds of commuters dressed like Long John (the mutant cockroach). This ominous ending didn't test well so the upbeat re-united street scene ending was shot and used instead. Bah humbug!

A sequel, Mimic 2 (2001) had Tyler’s friend Remy (a bit part in the original) dealing with even more dangerous mutant roaches. No one else from the first movie reprised their roles. Hmmm.

Here's the trailer in Spanish, I couldn't find one in English, so it makes the movie look like a cool foreign flick:

Mira Sorvino had a secret desire to be a pin-up girl, so I'm indulging her, 'cos I can

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

3 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

July 10th 2009 08:13

Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory

Bryn

Just on my way out and needed something to veg out on this evening.

Never say Mimic - don't ask - just never did.

Mira Sorvino is a bonus!

You're a genius.

Cheers champ

Comment by Natalina

July 11th 2009 04:08

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

I'd still put this in the entertaining category.

I did NOT know that Guillermo was doing Frankenstein! I've been longing for a really good adaptation. I am so smitten with Mary Shelley's book, I hope he does it well.

Mira Sorvino is pretty, although I can't think of something I've seen her in lately. And...Romy and Michelle...guilty pleasure

Comment by Bryn

July 11th 2009 07:29

Horrorphile

I love the story of how Mira's father, Paul Sorvino (so good as the mob boss in Goodfellas) "threatened" Quentin Tarantino that he'd better treat his daughter right. Quentin ended up dumping her ... the bloody idiot.

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[ Next - Drag Me to Hell ]