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• 1 media/Movie Poster.jpg 2023-03-01T07:20:25-08:00 Mimic - Analysis 22 plain 2023-03-17T17:24:14-07:00      Throughout the course of the film, there are three main eco-horror themes present. These are children in danger, capitalism in America and Americanisms, and the idea that natural solutions are better than unnatural ones. These themes along with the plot genetic modification gone bad plot of the movie make it fall under the eco-horror genre.  Within this page these themes are analyzed.
  
  

  Theme: Children in Danger

       Within the movie, there was a constant theme of children being in danger. This theme was often present within two scenarios. The first was children needing saving, and the second was children being victimized from the nature of society.  Within the movie, the masses of children present within New York City, and Chuy need saving by adults, and in both cases, they are able to be saved successfully. This indicates that it is the job and moral responsibility of adults to protect children from danger.

       The second scenario was apparent with Ricky and Davis. As the two kids are desperate for willing to do whatever it takes for a small amount of money. The kids desire for money in a capitalist society is what places them in harm's way and ultimately is what leads to their death. This emphasizes the criticism of capitalism and Americanisim within the movie. Furthermore, it demonstrates how the young and weak often fall victim to American capitalism.

   

  Theme: Criticism of Capitalism and Americanism

       Throughout the movie capitalism and Americanisim is critiqued heavily. As previously mentioned, desire for money is what led to Ricky and Davis dying. Furthermore, it is what led to the church being used as a front for the Triad gang, something the priest was killed for. The punishment of the priest was emphasized, as it was the first killing by the Judas, and the only killing of a character who did not play an important role in the plot. Within the triad church there were labels on different products that people were being forced to make which said “made in America”. The presence of the tag critiques consumerism and the idea that products that are made within the US come from a place with better production standards and worker rights.
  
       Within the same church scene, when the paramedics evacuate a lady who is talking about a dark angel, the Chinese interpreter says, "Chinese people man, they come up with some pretty wild stuff". This criticizes racism with American society, specifically the portrayal of people from Eastern cultures as crazy and their beliefs as mystical. It does so because the lady the cop was referencing was telling the truth, and in fact warning the cops and Peter about the Judas breed. However, due to their ignorance and assumptions they remain unaware of the breed.

  Theme: Natural Solutions are better than unnatural ones.

       Within the movie there is a constant battle between the natural and the unnatural. The genetic engineering which leads to the rise of the Judas bugs is at the center of this conflict, as it is an unnatural action. Even though it serves its intended purpose by eradicating the cockroaches and preventing the further spread of disease. Ultimately, it backfires on humanity and leads to the rise of murderous Juda bugs. This emphasizes the fact that we cannot accurately predict and assess what the effects of some unnatural solutions might be, and this inability can lead to substantial unintended consequences. Thus, making the ultimate theme of the movie a warning for those who might try genetic modification.

  The dislike of the unnatural is something that Susan. This is seen in the beginning of the movie when she refuses to use anything that she deems unnatural to get pregnant. Furthermore, it is seen within the movie that for many problems there can be natural solutions. An example of this is the mating calls that Susan uses to attract insects. This natural solution could be used to attract insects out of crops in fields and help save the field, without significant unintended consequences. Thus, making it superior to any unnatural ones.
  
       This combination emphasizes the superiority of natural solutions over unnatural ones, and has strong connections to real life, as seen within a 2012 article titled "The Mosquito Solution", written by Michael Specter. Within the article he discusses the effects that mosquitoes have on spreading disease, he then explains a way to genetically modify mosquitoes in order to eradicate populations of them, "One gene carries instructions to manufacture far too much of a protein required to maintain healthy new cells; the results are lethal."(Specter) whilst the mosquitoes are in the lab the gene is repressed. however, when they are released, "the lethal gene goes unchecked. Within days the males, along with any eggs they help to create, will perish."(Specter). Although this seems like an effective means to eradicate mosquitoes that might transmit the disease, the only successful tests for this solution have been conducted in a laboratory. Thus, making this solution eerily similar to the one presented, and warned against within Mimic, and demonstrating the societal importance and current backing of genetic modification in order to eradicate viruses. Furthermore, there is the issue of destroying animal food chains, something that Specter recognizes as, within the article he also states, "For instance, what would happen to those fish, frogs, other insects, and arthropods that feed on larval or adult mosquitoes?... It would be irresponsible to deploy transgenic insects widely without adequate answers to those questions"(Specter). However, it is likely we will never know the true extent that removing them might have, and the possible domino effect that it could create, thus any action that might consist of completely eradicating mosquitoes might have severe repercussions for humanity and nature.