“Mimic 2” (1997)

“Mimic 2” (1997), Jean de Segonvac, 1.5 stars

“What the hell are we looking for?” – soldier

With all of the headaches the original “Mimic” created for its director and, presumably, its producers as well, you wouldn’t expect anyone to pony up any more money on a sequel but, nevertheless, that’s just what happened.  Screenwriter Joel Soisson (“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”) takes Remy (Alix Koromzay), the most minor of the major characters in the original film, gives her a backstory as a science teacher, and concocts a horrific scenario that provides her with her own heroic journey.  In the first film, Remy assists Dr. Susan Tyler of the CDC in an ill-defined capacity while her boss descends deeper and deeper into the innermost rings of hell.  Here, the hellishness plays itself out in a deteriorating public school somewhere in the South Bronx.  People are losing face (literally) and one of these poor unfortunates is a dunderhead Remy recently dated and now wants nothing to do with.  She sure knows how to pick 'em.  Her wall is plastered with Polaroids of herself in the aftermath of countless dates gone wrong.

But we don’t really care.  Remy’s not a particularly attractive or sympathetic character herself, and the sad truth is neither is anyone else who winds up in harm’s way.  Certainly not Detective Klaski (Bruno Campos), who noses around trying to get to the root of the ghastly homicides.  He’s pretty much clueless, and hopelessly crass to boot.  Nor do we worry whether or not the young’uns, Nicky (Will Estes) and Sal (Gaven E. Lucas), will survive their after-hours ordeal in the bowels of the school.  The former is too hormonally out of balance, and the latter, although he's a cute kid, doesn’t really say or do anything worthy of surviving through to the end credits.  In fact, he does some pretty stupid things along the way.

Although the plot is anything but, the film itself looks very smart.  Like its predecessor, much of the action takes place in darkness illuminated by a stray light here and there, which may or may not flicker annoyingly for additional effect.  The production also oozes more than its fair share of luminescent slime, and bugs of all sizes crash through ceilings and walls right on their frenetic musical cues.  Director Jean de Segonzac (“Homicide: Life on the Street”) distorts the camera and places it at all sorts of odd angles, but this is an example of excessive form attempting to compensate for inadequate content.  Though I like the original film quite a bit, I’m afraid I can’t recommend its offspring.  Gone are all of Guillermo del Toro's signature themes:  faith, dispair, heroism. The bugs are back, but no one is any smarter or renewed spiritually as a result of surviving an encounter with them.  And from everything I’ve read, which admittedly isn't much, I can’t imagine that the next genetic mutation in the series (“Mimic 3 Sentinel”) will be much better: a conclusion I will at some point in the near future no doubtedly wind up drawing for myself.