Mimic 4K 1997 Director's Cut

This film, based on the novel by Donald E. Wallheim, is set in the present day. A deadly disease is spreading in the United States, carried by cockroaches. A husband and wife, both geneticists, find a way to combat the epidemic—they artificially create an insect that destroys the cockroaches, the carriers of the infection, and then dies itself, unable to reproduce.

Several years pass, and strange events begin to occur in New York—a creature, outwardly resembling a tall, thin man in a black cloak, kills and devours people. One day, a group of kids brings in one of this creature’s offspring, and the same scientists discover that over the years, the hybrid insects they created have undergone a massive evolutionary cycle, resulting in this terrifying mutant insect, which has grown in size and resembles a human in appearance. To save humanity from these monsters, the scientists must kill the male fertilizer, the sole male in the entire population.

Based on this brief plot summary, one might assume that this film follows a standard formula. But that is only partly true.
Conceptually, this film is pure science fiction. The film itself is shot in a thrilling and stylish way—it’s no surprise that the director is Guillermo del Toro. His greatest achievement is that he managed to create the “right” atmosphere for the entire story, adding a touch of the mystical thriller. As expected, most of the action takes place in the gloomy, dark labyrinths of the New York subway, which also contributes to the film’s overall atmosphere.

The director skillfully plays on people’s psyche, tapping into the fear of seeing something alien and threatening in the ordinary and everyday—imagine an ordinary street where people are rushing about their business. And just a few meters away, beneath their feet, a pair of monstrous eyes watches them from the opening of a ventilation shaft...

Or the subway—we’re all used to this mode of transport, used to the fact that it’s always crowded and safe. Del Toro, however, shatters this established perception in our minds; take, for example, this scene from the film—the main character is at a subway station, surrounded by many people. A second later, and that familiar sense of safety vanishes instantly. The subway doors close, the station empties, and behind a pillar stands a monster, a caricature of a man in a long dark coat. The woman calls out to him, thinking he’s a passerby, and then the monster turns around....

“Mimic” is definitely far from an ordinary film, and it’s a pleasure to have it in your home video collection.