Mimic: Sentinel (2003) (V)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

J.T. Petty

Writers:

Donald A. Wollheim (short story "Mimic")
J.T. Petty (written by)

Release Date:

14 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Terror has been reinvented!

Plot:

A man enclosed in a plastic bubble, his sister, and their best friend must defend an apartment complex from the mutant Judas Breed insects.

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Insect | Camera | Death | Fire

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Lance Henriksen	...	Garbageman
Karl Geary	...	Marvin Montrose
Alexis Dziena	...	Rosy Montrose
Keith Robinson	...	Desmond
Tudorel Filimon	...	Birdman (as Filimon Tudorel)
Rebecca Mader	...	Carmen
Maria Oprescu	...	Ma Bell
Mircea Constantinescu	...	Mr. Pasture
Mircea Anca Jr.	...	Adam Pasture
Amanda Plummer	...	Simone Montrose
John Kapelos	...	Det. Gary Dumars
Ion Haiduc	...	Moustache
Nicolae Constantin Tanase	...	Thug #1 (as Nicolae Constantin)
Luana Stoica	...	Female Victim #1
Marius Silviu Florentin	...	Thug #2

Also Known As:

Mimic 3 (USA) (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

Brazil:77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | Greece:K-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Romania

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

Martial-arts actor Gary Daniels was up for the role of Detective Gary Dumars which was ultimately played by John Kapelos.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Rosy: Marvin, you've gotta come see this shit.
Marvin: Did you get my pictures?
Rosy: Yeah. Um, but you've got to come outside. Me and Des found something.
Marvin: What is it?
Rosy: You'll see.

Movie Connections:

References Rear Window (1954)

Soundtrack:

You Can't Tell the Difference After Dark

rear window with giant cockroaches

It does start off slow but well acted, directed, written by newcomer J.T. Petty. However the last climactic scenes shows how well placed shots, edits, lighting and sound can do for a low budget monster flick. The CG and puppetry were well balanced, hiding weaknesses, using their strengths. Very good payoff for graphic violent mayhem. Could have been a bit more action for my common denominator needs but I did cringe a few times, feeling somewhat mortal.

Some minor critiques. The exterior lighting with high contrast and great shadows was superb but the lighting for interiors was too even and felt like a TV studio set. Of course the whole thing felt filmed in a studio but the exterior had more contrast, style where as interiors seemed to just do the 'play it safe' sort of BBC lighting.

Good job to actors, great sound, nicely done set painters though a bit more obvious then subtle. Interesting music score.