Mimic
Directed by Guillermo Del Torro
REP Film Distribution
National release on November 27
Review by Jon Land
As summer creeps up on us, we venture to the beach and the "great outdoors" to worship the sun and grill bits of dead cow and onion on the barbie. We slap on sun-goo and prepare to do battle with the insect nasties that crawl over our food and sting and buzz our bodies.
To escape the bugs and the heat, maybe we'll head off to the cinema and check out the movies released in time for the school holidays.
Mimic is a sci-fi bug film set in present-day New York. An epidemic of a life-threatening bacterium is paralysing and killing young children. The Centre for Disease Control is unable to control the spread of the bacterium, carried by millions of cockroaches through the streets and sewers of the city.
Scientist Dr Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) successfully combines the DNA of various species of insect to create a biological counter-agent which exudes an enzyme that kills the cockroaches. (it is inferred that the cockroaches have become immune to chemical control). Along with her husband, Dr Peter Mann (Jeremy Notham), deputy director of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Tyler eradicates the cockroaches and saves the children. The couple are proclaimed heroes.
The new species Dr Tyler has created is dubbed the Judas Breed and is supposed to be sterile. But three years after their release, the Judas Breed are growing in size and number and have developed a liking for human flesh. They have evolved into creatures that use mimicry to look like humans.
The film deals with the issue of the consequences for people and the environment of altering DNA in organisms. It also raises, indirectly, the question of how humanity deals with insect pest problems in food production and agriculture. How do we stop the bugs from ruining our fruit and vegies or munching through our packet of Tim Tams without using toxic chemicals? How do we challenge the profit-driven corporations such as Monsanto and Shell which develop "controls" for insect pests that end up costing consumers millions and seriously damaging the environment?
Mimic is a bit drawn out and does not create the suspense of similar films such as Aliens. For my vote, the Judas Breed and Sorvino are the best actors, while Charles S. Dutton gives a credible performance as Leonard the grumpy and heroic motor traffic cop. The special effects are done well and the Judas Breeds look superb, as far as nasties go.
If you've had a bad week with a cockroach of a boss, you might want to see Mimic for sheer escapism. Otherwise the beach looks pretty good.