Mimic

If you're not into horror movies you probably wouldn't even consider going to see this movie, but if you don't you'll miss a superb piece of movie making.

I nearly yelled out in Mimic "Don't go in there! Please, please don't go in there!" And I can't remember doing that except in nightmares!

Mimic works and it's effective because believe it or not, in spite of it's subject matter, Mimic is subtle! Unlike more conventional horror movies, for example the pedestrian, predictable, slash and hook flick now on show called "I Know What You Did Last Summer", Mimic has an understated air, - and that's all the more terrifying.

Mimic creates an environment that would worry Arnie in Predator or Ripley in Aliens. Mimic takes place in dark enclosed, dirty, underground spaces; claustrophobic lairs smelly with horror. The cockys have evolved to become big enough to enjoy a tasty, likeable little boy snack if that's what's on offer, and that's not the half of it.

Early on in the film we become convinced that these are the worst of enemies because they have just don't care. And they are capable of anything; of capturing and eating anyone! These assassins kill for no other reason than food or protection. Insects don't ever think, at least not in Mimic. "Can I eat it, or will it eat me" sums up the moral choices for these huge, very nasty insects.

Great battles have been had on screen with other protagonists in recent years, but in the best of those, Predator and in Aliens, the chief nasties were given personalties and motives. The alien in Predator delighted in his collection of human spines, and the mother bug in Aliens became a trifle upset when Ripley murdered her babies.

But the cockys in Mimic are completely amoral,insect like, and for my money that makes them even more terrifying.

It's important in movies like these to throw in the odd bit of nice humanity, so that the bastardry of the evil ones is highlighted. A beautiful, devastatingly talented actress is helpful in this regard and Mimic has the astounding Mira Sorvino.

She's already won one Academy Award for a loveable whore in Mighty Aprodite. Her giggle at one stage, accompanied by the perfect return to another gloomy cocky heaven, is pure magic, as is the music throughout.

I'm not going to tell you if any of the good blokes and gals escape the claws of these fantastic monsters but I will relate that the ending sequences of Mimic do pale a little compared to the preceding mayhem.

But I suppose that there must be some light at the end of the subway. But Hell, there's still plenty of cocky goo to go around.