“Mimics” follows down-on-his-luck impressionist Sam Reinhold, whose life turns into a nightmare after making a pact with a strings-attached puppet.
Director-star Kristoffer Polaha and screenwriter Marc Oakley craft a story that is many things: mainly comedy and horror, but even romance.
Mainly through cringey humor, “Mimics” delivers many laughs. The opening of the film perfectly showcases the central character’s desire for fame, utilizing Sam’s impersonations and stand-up act for awkward chuckles.
Once the ventriloquism begins, however, the comedy goes to another level. Fergus, also voiced by Polaha, brings well-thought-out humor through fully realized skits and conversations.
Exploring the seduction of glamour and stardom, “Mimics” delivers an impactful message. Every choice has a cost, and the movie fully dives into this topic through Sam’s journey. However, once you get wrapped up in success, it can be hard to pause and see the horrors around you.
Just as the central character does, the movie allows viewers to become captivated by the money and fame as well. “Mimics” is deceptively full of upbeat music accompanied by Sam’s fast-paced career advancements… only until it’s not.
“Mimics” takes its time before treading into terror. In fact, virtually the first half of the film is absent of it. Slowly but surely, however, it begins to add bits and pieces of unease. And while the horror eventually expands, it always remains grounded. This is because of the film’s commitment to practical puppet effects. Fergus has a simplistic design, but it’s nonetheless creepy.
“Mimics” is also part romance. Despite being largely relegated to subplot status, Polaha and Moriah (Virginia) bring the connection to life. And it works so well because the movie establishes the heartfelt nature of the relationship before gold strikes. Already invested in Sam and Virginia as characters, the audience is brought on an emotional journey as it falls apart.
Despite its slow-burn approach, the movie’s 94-minute runtime flies by. So much so that elements of the final act feel rushed. Character development moves in expected directions, but without enough explanation behind them.
While similar sequences are expanded upon over the first two-thirds of “Mimics,” they’re shortened as the story draws to a close. Because of this, the lore is ultimately underdeveloped. At the same time, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it leaves you wanting to know more.
Polaha is typically known as a “Hallmark actor.” While I haven’t seen his other work, this is clearly a very different role. He brings the character to life, transforming his performance with each shift along the way. Constantly changing his delivery style to match each stage of the film, Polaha makes “Mimics” whole. Moriah is also impressive. While she doesn’t have as much screen time, her character carries great importance to the overall narrative. Moriah holds much of the film’s emotional core, providing the perfect balance to Polaha’s role. Stephen Tobolowsky (Melvin) and Chris Parnell (Jack Conrad) are memorable in supporting roles as well.
Sam and Fergus steal the show as the human-puppet duo in “Mimics.” The film seamlessly blends several genres while exploring the horrors of fame through ventriloquism.
Rating: 4 out of 5
