Mimic **** (1997, Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Alexander Goodwin, Charles S Dutton, Josh Brolin) – Classic Movie Review 2003

Co-writer/director Guillermo del Toro’s exciting 1997 horror movie stars Mira Sorvino as scientist/entomologist Dr Susan Tyler, who genetically creates and conjures up a new breed of insect to destroy killer cockroaches that carry a virulent disease. But then, three years later, the insects turn into huge monsters able to mimic humans. And they set out to destroy humankind, their only predator.

Del Toro’s extremely creepy, eerily atmospheric, extraordinarily well-done chiller is very entertaining, with some spectacularly good, scary, edge-of-seat set pieces. Sorvino and Jeremy Northam (as her fellow scientist Dr Peter Mann) are successes, both effectively cast against type. Also very effective are movie’s idea taken from the original short story by Donald A Wollheim and Del Toro’s screen story and screenplay, written with Matthew Robbins.

Charles S Dutton, Alexander Goodwin, Giancarlo Giannini, Josh Brolin, F Murray Abraham, Alix Koromzay, James Costa, Javon Barnwell, Norman Reedus and Pat-Kwong Ho are also in the strong cast.

Sequels: Mimic 2 (2001) and Mimic: Sentinel (2003), with none of the original stars.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 2003

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