A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Positive Messages
some
Characters show courage and perseverance to track down and face big bug monsters; some put themselves in danger to save others.
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Positive Role Models
some
Dr. Susan Tyler is an entomologist who worked out how to stop a deadly disease and returns to solve a follow-up mystery. She is hardworking, intelligent, and brave. Dr. Peter Mann is Susan's husband and partner. He is bold and selfless. Two kids collect bugs to sell to Susan. They are brash and sometimes rude, calling people experiencing homelessness "moles."
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Diverse Representations
a little
The main character is a woman entomologist who is portrayed as being smart and brave. Leading characters are all White with only a few people of color in the supporting cast. A young boy character who broadly appears to be neurodiverse is called "special" by his father. He has the ability to mimic sounds and pays attention to people's shoes above all else.
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Mix of psychological horror and gooey monster gore. Scene setting shows hospitals full of children suffering from a disease, shown in distress and pain. Two kids are ripped apart by a giant creature but in darkness with little detail shown. Someone falls from a rooftop and dies, their corpse dragged down a drain. Some gore, including close-up shots of bloody wounds. Underground explosions cause panic at street level.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
Couple kiss and climb into a full bath wearing clothes.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Language
a lot
Frequent language includes "s--t," "f--k," "f---ing," "turd," "motherf----r," and "goddammit." "Jesus" is used as an exclamation.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
One cigarette and one cigar smoked during the movie. Sanitation worker mentions finding flushed condoms containing cocaine.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Mimic is a science fiction action horror, directed by by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, with distressing scenes, jump scares, gore, and strong language. The film is about a plague that killed hundreds of children before being eradicated by genetically modified bugs, developed by Dr. Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino). Unfortunately these laboratory made bugs return threes years later, with a new target in their sights … humankind. The movie features tense scenes, gooey monster gore, regular bloody wounds, explosions, and frequent strong language, including "s--t" and variants of "f--k." Children are seen in hospital and in distress. Later, two kids are ripped apart by a monster but without graphic detail. Dr. Tyler is a bold and intelligent female lead who shows great courage and perseverance. There are two instances of smoking and one reference to cocaine. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
In MIMIC, Dr. Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) successfully genetically modified bugs to rid New York City of a lethal disease carried by co*ckroaches. Three years later, people start to go missing and strange sightings of mysterious creatures start. Has the cure become the new killer?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Mimic. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Did you think the movie was scary? What was most scary about it? What's the appeal of horror movies?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How did Dr. Susan Tyler show perseverance and courage? Why are these such important character strengths to have?
Discuss genetic engineering. Do you think it's ethical? What do you think are the benefits and cons?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 22, 1997
- On DVD or streaming: April 22, 1998
- Cast: Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Charles S. Dutton
- Director: Guillermo Del Toro
- Inclusion Information: Latino directors, Female actors, Black actors, Latino writers
- Studio: Dimension Films
- Genre: Horror
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance
- Run time: 105 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: terror/violence and language
- Last updated: November 14, 2023
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