Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Mira Sorvino | ... | Dr. Susan Tyler | |
Jeremy Northam | ... | Dr. Peter Mann | |
Alexander Goodwin | ... | Chuy | |
Giancarlo Giannini | ... | Manny | |
Charles S. Dutton | ... | Leonard | |
Josh Brolin | ... | Josh | |
Alix Koromzay | ... | Remy | |
F. Murray Abraham | ... | Dr. Gates | |
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James Costa | ... | Ricky |
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Javon Barnwell | ... | Davis |
Norman Reedus | ... | Jeremy | |
Pak-Kwong Ho | ... | Preacher | |
Glenn Bang | ... | Yang (as Glen Bang) | |
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Margaret Ma | ... | Chinese Woman |
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Warna Fisher | ... | Bag Lady |
A disease carried by common cockroaches is killing Manhattan children. In an effort to stop the epidemic an entomologist, Susan Tyler, creates a mutant breed of insect that secretes a fluid to kill the roaches. This mutant breed was engineered to die after one generation, but three years later Susan finds out that the species has survived and evolved into a large, gruesome monster that can mimic human form. Written by Steven Dretzke <stevend@unicomp.net>
Just like the giant cockroaches in the movie mimic their predators (humans), director Guillermo Del Toro mimics David Fincher's style in "Seven": gimmicky opening credits, excessively dark photography, constant rain, claustrophobic atmosphere. Nonetheless, it is his superior craftsmanship and visual sense that elevates this otherwise standard, conventional monster movie into an above-average standard, conventional monster movie. He is helped, of course, by a capable cast (Mira Sorvino holds her own as the lead), and by the impressively designed creatures, which look much better than the monsters in some more recent horror films. (**1/2)