MIMIC 2

US, 2001, 82 minutes, Colour.
Alex Koromzay, Bruno Campos, Will Este, Gaven E. Lucas, Edward Albert, John Polito.
Directed by Jean de Segonzac.

Mimic 2 follows on from the original Mimic, starring Jeremy Northam and Mia Sorvino. It is a story of experimentation, genetic mutation, the development of giant cockroaches and their menace to humans. This is a more modest film, interesting nonetheless.

It begins with information about the menace to humans and focuses on a man emerging from the New York subway into a somewhat dilapidated New York City, but attacked and transformed into a mutation, losing his face which becomes part of the mutation. Several other characters have the same experience, men associated with Remi, a teacher in a Bronx school who was involved in the experiments.

Detective Klaski begins to investigate and gets caught up in the dangers, being trapped in the school with Remi, and with a teenager brutalised by his father and the young black boy who has no home to go to.

The film capitalises on its special effects, the touch of gore, the transformation of humans into cockroaches – something especially seen at the end, with a touch of pathos, and with the touch of menace which leaves the story open to a further sequel.

1. The popularity of the original film? The characters? The situation? Science, transformations, mutations, threats to civilisation?

2. This film continuing the story, the focus on Remi, on those associated with her, their deaths, the transformations, the menace to Remi, the police investigation, the teenager, the young boy, involved with her, the buildup to the menace?

3. The colour photography, the garish look of New York City, the subway, the Bronx, apartments, schools?

4. The special effects, the action sequences? The touches of horror and gore?

5. Remi, at school, her classes, her interests in insects, the specimens at home, her work, the book? Her involvement in the experiments? Her reclusive dinners, the men, the outings, the flowers, the men being transformed? At school, her dismissal? The transformation of the principal? The encounter with Klaski, his investigations, attraction, protection? The military and their intervention? The young boy, his brutal father? The black boy, making up stories about home? Trapped in the school, the principal and the change? Klaski and his intervention, trapped in the room, Remi and has sent, the creatures in the war, the plan with her clothes, the escape of the boys, Klasski going in, his rescuing Remi, in hospital? Her waking, going home, the boy, the knock on the door, the transformed Klasski, the ending with menace?

6. The teenager, at school, wanting a date, his father bashing him, hiding in the school, the menace, the device of the clothes, his being saved?

7. The young black boy, friendly, having a home, making up stories, devoted to Remi, trapped in the school, his escape?

8. Klaski, tough New York police, on-the-job, fellow officers, the confrontation with the military authority, interviewing Remi, curious about her interests, the book? Reading it? The attraction, going into the building, rescuing Remi, the end and his transformation?

9. The military, the involvement in the experiments, the confrontation of the man in charge with Klasski?

10. The range of victims, their characters, connection with Remi?

11. A satisfactory small budget, horror film, straight to video?