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Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Josh Brolin, Giancarlo Giannini, Charles S. Dutton ... see more see more... , Alexander Goodwin , Alix Koromzay , F Murray Abraham

While one would imagine that the average New Yorker would be used to dealing with bugs after years of apartment dwelling, a scientific experiment gone wrong results in an insect that even Raid can't h... read more read more...andle in this sci-fi/horror thriller. In Manhattan, cockroaches are spreading a deadly disease that is claiming hundreds of the city's children, so entomologist Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) uses genetic engineering techniques to create what she and her colleague (and husband) Peter Mann (Jeremy Northam) call the Judas Breed, a large insect that will feed on the disease carrying roaches. Since the Judas bugs have been designed so that they can't breed, the mutated species should die out in a matter of a few years. However, Susan, Peter, and their staff severely underestimated the cockroach's ability to adapt to its conditions. The Judas Breed has indeed found a way to reproduce itself, but more importantly, the insect has grown remarkably large (sometimes reaching six feet in length), has developed a taste for meat, and can mimic the appearance and behavior of other creatures with uncanny accuracy -- including humans. Susan and Peter have learned that huge swarms of the Judas Breed are living beneath the city in the subway system, and with the help of Leonard (Charles S. Dutton), a transit system employee who knows the labyrinth of subway tunnels like the back of his hand, they search out the humanoid insects before they can take over the city. Mimic also features Giancarlo Giannini, Josh Brolin, and F. Murray Abraham. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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37% liked it

44,108 ratings

Critics

61% liked it

36 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Release Date: August 22, 1997

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DVD Release Date: April 21, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (1,016)

  • thefog1331
    October 30, 2011
    thefog1331
    A so-so monster movie from director del Toro that surprisingly is not much better in it's director's cut incarnation. There's several more scenes scattered throughout but they still don't help lift the generally weak impact of the film.
  • stevenecarrier
    September 6, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    I always seem to give Guillermo del Toro the benefit of the doubt, and I really should stop doing that. There comes a point when I have to realize, no matter how noble his intentions, he's just not that great of a filmmaker. I appreciate his attempts at elevating the creature B-M... read moreovie ("Cronos" and "Pan's Labyrinth" are good examples of this). I also appreciate his appreciation of character. That is something that squarely fits him in the auteur category; visual style plus sturdy characterization.

    Still, there is no way around the fact that he has extremely overrated. His "Hellboy" films are embarrassingly messy and "Blade II" is the loudest, most overstuffed and incoherent sequel around. "Mimic" falls sort of in the middle of all this. There is clearly and interesting film at play here. I liked the ideas and the characters. Unfortunately it's just so squarely pedestrian it can never rise above mediocrity. The director's cut does help the film but in the end, it's just a generic creature film. If creatures is all del Toro has to contribute to the world of cinema, he should quit while he's ahead. Del Toro needs to give us something new, and looking at his upcoming projects, he's not trying to.
  • cosmo313
    August 18, 2011
    cosmo313
    I've only seen this once, and I don't remember too much about it, but I remember that I really liked it. Since then, I've found out that this was directed by Guillermo del Toro, which didn't mean much to me when I saw it sicne I had no idea who he was back then. Now that I know t... read morehis, I may just have to give this a rewatch since i know I'll be able to appreciate it far better.

    The plot involves a creepy type of insect monster that can mimic humans. Most of the film takes place in subways and there's lots of darkness, tension, and all the little tropes that make horror movies what they are. So, while the film isn't the most original in that sense, it has del Toro's unique and awesome visual style and sensibilities, and definitely fits into his oeuvre.

    The film is really creepy, has some neat effects, and you can easily see del Toro's love for horror and being creative and imaginative. You should check this one out. It's really good.
  • blkbomb
    July 12, 2011
    blkbomb
    Susan Tyler: Sometimes an insect will even mimic its predator.

    Mimic was not as good as I had hoped, but I still like it and think it's a pretty solid creature feature. I like that Guillermo del Toro made a movie like this, as you can see that he really enjoys the genre. Mimic ... read moreis a pretty cool and very fun science fiction film.

    The story revolves around a huge type of bug called the Judas Breed that Susan(Mira Sirvino) created. Her and her fellow bug experts didn't think it would be able to adapt and would die off eventually. Well soon she finds out this isn't the case. The bugs are as big as humans and are able to mimic us too.

    The acting isn't great, but it doesn't ruin the movie either. The real stars of the movie are the bugs though, and they look great. While it's by no means an amazing movie; it's really easy to have fun watching.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    June 30, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    A Bold Experiment. A Deadly Mistake!

    Good movie. It had it's good intense moments which I liked very much. The story was intriguing, a little bit too dark for my taste but nevertheless good enough. Acting was not so bad, Mira Sorvino acted pretty good.

    A virulent new disease i... read mores killing the children of Manhattan and has reached epidemic proportions. Peter Mann in desperation asks the entomologist, Dr. Susan Tyler, if she can help by killing the disease carrier, the common cockroach. Susan genetically engineers a new species of predatory insect to exterminate the cockroach and then die off. This novel solution works and the children recover but nature isn't the laboratory and things don't exactly go according to plan. Three years later people start to disappear, mutilated bodies are found and wild rumors of giant insects mimicking man start to emerge from the bag people living in the subway under Manhattan. Peter and Susan are called in to investigate.
  • kenstachnik
    January 9, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Thoroughly enjoyable, can't wait for his directors cut to his DVD
  • 3niR
    July 5, 2010
    3niR
    No wonder why it got so many bad ratings. I'm not really good in Biology but I do have some common sense. I must admit that the special effects was good. About acting, that little boy was annoying. Was he mental? No I do not recommend it to watch at all. It's a waste of time.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    September 29, 2009
    cancercapricorn2002
    Working in New York, Dr. Susan Tyler, (Mira Sorvino) is able to announce an official cure for the devastating Strickler's Disease, along with her husband Peter Mann, (Jeremy Northam) as the disease had targeted children. Figuring they are done with it, they are shocked years late... read morer when they are confronted with evidence about a roach problem dating back to their first experiments. Forced to go down into the sewers of the city with Officer Leonard, (Charles Dutton) they find that the rumors are indeed true, that the cockroaches used in the initially experiments have mutated into gigantic insects that have formed an ability to mimic the appearances due to the testing and have become responsible for a series of gruesome attacks in the area, forcing them into a battle to stop them before they take over the city.
    There was some good stuff to this film that does hold it up. A big factor to this one is that, for once, this one comes up with an intelligent storyline that is built up to the extent that it's not at all confusing as to what's happening. From the evolution of the insects built to combat the virus and what the original intent is, to how the change begin, including the trigger factor, and finally the end result, with the fully-formed insects going out on the hunt, this one is well-built and has a really strong story to it that is, thankfully, kept to a simple part once it's all out in the open. Another good point here is the use of the creatures, which are really well-done and quite entertaining. The fact that they still have the insectoid look to them, with the facial features and the long, grabbing arms and overall look, along with the few humanoid touches given to it, from the ability to be a human-sized person when standing upright with the wings and spikes tucked in to the humanoid-mask that covers their face and allows them to move about with a vaguely human-looking appearance that allows them to blend in perfectly. There's also some fun to be had with the blood and gore in here, which is quite fun. There's a leg amputation, a leg slashed open that is repeatedly cut open further and bleeds more, a body bent completely in half backwards to the point of being able to fit into a small sewer gate, and tons of splatter on the walls, as well as all the non-lethal cuts and bruises along with the violence against the insects, which while not graphic does have some good stuff to it. The last big plus here is the film's second half, which really manages to consist of non-stop action for the duration. Once the descent into the sewers, there's just no stopping the action, from the chase through the tunnels to the confrontation inside the halls of the ruined subway station to an incredibly creepy attack inside a car nearby and followed up with simply spectacular conclusion inside the power plant that has a lot of great parts to it. From the glorious setting that not only allows for some plenty of fun tactics to be had but also makes for a creepy set-piece to the suspense of whether or not the plan, which is required by timing, to work is milked exceptionally well, and the fact that the aftermath is a simply gigantic explosion that is shown to take out the surrounding areas as well is a lot to do with this. The other segments are just as much fun, and overall this whole segment comes off rather well. There is some bad flaws here as well. One of the biggest is that, as much as the film scores right in this area, suffers from the overly-complicated scientific explanations for what's happening. It's great that it managed to make sure it's understood, but at the same token, it's also hammering those down to the point where it's bordering on overkill with the explanations. This is due to going into detail with every single person they come into contact with and spell it out for them, which at times makes th film like it's going on an extended loop for no real reason. This can be a source of contention as well for those that aren't into these types of films for the fact that it can be seen as being over-their-heads when trying to enjoy simple entertainment, and with this one being viewed as "smarter," it can lessen the enjoyment factor. Another factor to this, and perhaps the films' biggest flaw, is that it appears too long for it's own good. This one, especially in the early parts trying to examine everything and come up with an answer, makes the film feel incredibly long and not at all that interesting due to focusing on the scientific angle, and these here are the film's problems. I know a director's cut is on the way. I'm hopeful that some of these problems will be fixed. To sum up here this a somewhat above-average creature feature that, while slightly flawed, has enough good stuff going for it that it evens out. Give this a shot if you prefer more intellectual creature features or are a fan of the creative side, while those that are more into the simpler fare should heed caution.
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Mimic is an original horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat during the action sequences with tons of suspense. Mira Sorvino is an entomologist and she accidentally creates a new kind of bug that no one has seen before. The bugs grow up to be huge flying insects ... read morethat are said to have human instincts in them. Mira Sorvino and the others must destroy these monsters of a bug that she has created.
    The bugs are very well done and convincing once you see them. Once during the movie, one of the bugs opens its mouth to eat one of the heroes in a way that it looks like a human's face, yet they are bugs and can fly around. The movie has good special effects and like I said the bugs couldn't have been much more original or better done. Once they smell blood, you better watch out. The acting by Sorvino and the supporting cast is also good and the suspense at times during the movie is top notch.

    If you like great horror movies with a little bit of suspense added in, you should give Mimic a try. Most likely, you won't be disappointed. NOTE; That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. I still think of this movie as a goodie, and it was neat. Would love to see it again.
  • garyX
    December 13, 2007
    garyX
    A series of deaths and disappearances seem to lead back to the release of a genetically engineered cockroaches three years earlier. The early part of this film seems very much like the usual run of the mill horror film; disappearances in dark corridors, bumps in the night and fai... read moreling flashlights with the inevitable cop/scientist combo in pursuit. Things change however as the action shifts underground, and Guillermo Del Toro's keen sense of style and atmosphere comes to the fore. It takes a lot of cues from the Alien films, pilfering many ideas from Aliens, and featuring Charles S. Dutton in a very similar role to that in Alien 3. The shocks are well engineered, the monster effects pretty well done and Del Toro is very skilled at keeping the audience on the edge of their seat. As to be expected when a foreign director takes the helm in the early days of his Hollywood career, the cast is rather lacklustre, but they all acquit themselves adequately. It's also very derivative but if you can accept the rather ridiculous premise, one of the better creature features of recent years.

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Critic Reviews

Susan Wloszczyna
January 1, 2000
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today

A dark, dank and derivative horror ride only an Orkin man could truly love.

Sean Axmaker
May 19, 2012
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com

It comes off smarter and creepier than I recall the original, less about scares than a sustained atmosphere of eerie unease and skittery threats. Full Review

Matt Brunson
May 8, 2012
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing

Viewers will be forgiven for wanting to rush next door and douse their neighbor with RAID. Full Review

R. L. Shaffer
January 29, 2012
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD

While a visual treat, Mimic is exactly that, a film which mimics other styles and plot elements. In this case Alien and David Cronenberg's The Fly and Videodrome. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
September 30, 2011
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

It's clear now that Del Toro's favorite themes and symbols were already in place, with the vast underground setting, machinery, and man's interference in the supernatural order of things -- not to men... Full Review

Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton
September 24, 2011
Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central

Mimic: The Director's Cut on Blu-ray is a true gift for fans. Full Review

Michael Dequina
February 14, 2009
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Preposterous, yes, but a lot of fun. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
July 18, 2008
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Fairly lame bug horror. Not del Toro's best, to put it mildly. Full Review

Beth Accomando
July 10, 2008
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org

Del Toro does not make Tyler a symbol of science gone out of control or of science for greed, instead he makes her a scientist who in doing good has created a monster and has to live with that guilt. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
March 7, 2007
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Del Toro consegue criar alguns bons momentos de tensão e o filme conta com um design de produção bastante acima da média para exemplares do gênero. Ainda assim, a história óbvia, típica de uma produçã...

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