Mimic

THE GIST: The emergence in New York City of a virus that attacks and quickly kills children forces a scientist to genetically modify and release an insect in order to destroy the virus carrier, the common cockroach. Three years later, the newly created insect is not only unexpectedly still alive, but it has evolved and mutated into its own dangerous threat to humanity.

Creature films are probably among the hardest to pull off. The creature has to be scary and powerful—and oftentimes the less you show of it the better—but it also has to have a weak spot.

Mimic's creature is certainly scary and powerful, and we see enough of it to feel that, but the movie as a whole doesn't feel solid enough, primarily because of the many instances of happenstance and the dumb choices several characters make.

This goes back to the screenplay, of course, which I found to be lacking.

Nevertheless, the cast, led by Mira Sorvino and Jeremy Northam, does a pretty good job, and F. Murray Abraham has a pretty cool cameo, unlike Giancarlo Giannini, whose role makes very little sense.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A barely palatable horror that clearly shows its age. Up to you.

Grade: 5