About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

A fascinating premise yields modest results.



Pros

• Intriguing concept
• Solid performances

Cons

• Unintimidating zombies
• Bland action

Description

• Starring Allen Maldonado, Sid Haig, Lauren Mae Shafer, Courtney Gains, Taylor Piedmonte, David G.B. Brown, Jana Thompson
• Directed by Douglas Schulze
• Rated R
• DVD Release Date: February 12, 2013

Guide Review - 'Mimesis' DVD Review

Horror convention attendees Duane and Russell are more than surprised when sexy goth gal Judith approaches and invites them to a private party that night.

The pair drive out to the boonies, but the party proves disappointing, and as they prepare to leave, someone knocks them unconscious. Russell wakes up the next day lying beside Karen, another party invitee he met the night before. For some reason, they're dressed differently, but before they have time to figure out why, a zombie attacks Russell, sending Karen fleeing for safety. She finds it in a nearby farmhouse where Duane has likewise awoken wearing odd clothing. As more zombies begin to surround the house, Karen and Duane barricade themselves inside, along with Judith and another invitee from the previous night, Keith, whom they find inside the house. Being horror fans, it soon strikes them that their scenario mirrors that of the George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, but the question is are they somehow in a movie, or is life imitating art?

In a genre dominated by clichés, remakes and sequels, Mimesis actually finds a way to make imitation fresh and feeling more like an homage than an exploitation of the classic source material -- which, because it has lapsed into public domain, it often exploited.

The premise is inventive and enticing, like an opportunity for fans to insert themselves into Night of the Living Dead, but the final product doesn't convey the level of fun inherent in the concept -- in part because the zombies (all half dozen or so of them) are never terribly intimidating. The film does admirably delve into the debate of the social impact of film violence

The DVD

Special features include commentary.

Movie: C
DVD: D



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