Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
Why are we interested? Mainly because of the director, JT Petty, whose film SOFT FOR DIGGING has gotten a hell of a lot of good buzz around it. Besides, I can empathize with anyone trying to make a good third film in a flagging franchise. Ahem.
Hey Harry, Mori – my final review from the festival - show a frequent visitor and poster some love! If you post this, call me Argento 101.
Well, I caught my last film of the Philly Film Festival Monday night, the third entry in the popular giant cockroach saga, MIMIC. The film was directed by SOFT FOR DIGGING helmer JT Petty, making his big studio debut and doing a pretty darn good job of it, too.
Marvin is a survivor of Strickler's Disease, the deadly ailment that was erradicated by the Judas Breed cockroaches who eventually grew into oversized monsters in the first film. Although cured of Strickler's, Marvin is hyper-sensitive to the environment and is more or less a "bubble boy," almost always confined to his room. To pass the hours he obsessively photographs his neighbors in the apartment complex across the street. His hobby is a source of consternation for his family and the authorities, when Marvin begins reporting strange occurences he can't quite explain but knows are related to the Judas Breed roaches. He investigates further with his sister and a beautiful young woman from the neighboring building named Carmen, and discovers the sort of sinister doings afoot that can only 1) be the work of Lance Henrikson and 2) result in a giant cockroach onslaught.
What we have here is essentially MIMIC MEETS REAR WINDOW, a strange concoction that Petty's script makes work quite nicely. He allows for ample development of Marvin, his mother and sister (along with her beat cop paramour), and Carmen to decent returns - we actually care what happens to these people. The cast acquits itself nicely, especially PULP FICTION vet Amanda Plummer as Marvin's doting but frustrated mother. Genre fave Henrikson, who turns in what amounts to a glorified cameo, goes a little too far over the top in light of the restrained work others turn in. He's the weak link in the cast, I suppose - but the only weak link, and one who doesn't have enough screentime to hurt the proceedings.
Obviously MIMIC's on-screen requirements differ a little from those of a film like SOFT FOR DIGGING, but Petty keeps the action and gore in check with a tight grip and is never gratuitous, proving he's adept at handling this sort of material. He also wisely limits the Judas' face time, carving up their assaults into shock-cut barrages of carnage.
Although a locale is never established, the pic was shot in Eastern Europe and Petty uses the scenery to excellent effect. The dingy environment of the outside world juxtaposes nicely with Marvin's antiseptic surroundings.
The film's look and feel is well-rendered, and Petty seems to take pleasure in expounding on Marvin's voyueristic hobby. With the opening credit sequence in particular, he's able to build a nice sense of menace and perversity behind the simple act of taking a photograph.
This is an impressive piece of genre filmmaking. Petty was able to work well with what he was given (obviously not too much), and has turned out a slick and smart jewel for Dimension's direct-to-video crown. I can't wait to see more from him in the future, and recommend you get on board now and check this pic out!
Wow. Worth seeing? Seriously? Knowing Dimension, they would take a good film and banish it direct-to-video without realizing what they have.
"Moriarty" out.
