Movie #10 - Mimic
This is the only Del Toro movie I had yet to see. Considering he disowned the film and the fact that it's regularly shit on by viewers, I didn't have the biggest of expectations going into the film but I was actually pleasantly surprised. It's basically the 50s nature horror/sci fi, infused with Aliens, and taking place within modern New York.
The film obviously owes a lot to Aliens, both in its visual flare as well the mythos behind the creatures themselves, but I found it to be an enjoyable monster film none the less. I was actually a bit disappointed by the insect designs itself considering the man behind them, but I suppose Del Toro didn't want to deviate too much from the actual appearance of an insect. Having said that, some of the practical effects, particularly the insect dissection scenes, were quite good and reminiscent to the slimy splatter effects of the 80s.
The film's definitely not a classic, nor is it terribly unique, but the film is entertaining through out and definitely worth a watch.
I do admit though, I'm kind of tired of the Sacrificial Negro trope within films though, (ie. Black characters sacrifice their own well being for the sake of saving/bettering/changing a whiter character(s) future within the narrative for the better) which can be seen with Charles Dutton's character. And I found it hilarious how the mimic insect slaughters blacks when it encounters them, but takes white victims as a prisoner. I never understood the latter point, the practice of prisoner taking was never explained narratively, and served no purpose other than not killing off significant characters.
This is the only Del Toro movie I had yet to see. Considering he disowned the film and the fact that it's regularly shit on by viewers, I didn't have the biggest of expectations going into the film but I was actually pleasantly surprised. It's basically the 50s nature horror/sci fi, infused with Aliens, and taking place within modern New York.
The film obviously owes a lot to Aliens, both in its visual flare as well the mythos behind the creatures themselves, but I found it to be an enjoyable monster film none the less. I was actually a bit disappointed by the insect designs itself considering the man behind them, but I suppose Del Toro didn't want to deviate too much from the actual appearance of an insect. Having said that, some of the practical effects, particularly the insect dissection scenes, were quite good and reminiscent to the slimy splatter effects of the 80s.
The film's definitely not a classic, nor is it terribly unique, but the film is entertaining through out and definitely worth a watch.
I do admit though, I'm kind of tired of the Sacrificial Negro trope within films though, (ie. Black characters sacrifice their own well being for the sake of saving/bettering/changing a whiter character(s) future within the narrative for the better) which can be seen with Charles Dutton's character. And I found it hilarious how the mimic insect slaughters blacks when it encounters them, but takes white victims as a prisoner. I never understood the latter point, the practice of prisoner taking was never explained narratively, and served no purpose other than not killing off significant characters.