🎥 13 years before TWD, Norman Reedus was stealing the show in this hidden-gem sci-fi horror movie! 😱

Before Norman Reedus became the fan-favorite Daryl Dixon, he was already making waves in a mind-blowing sci-fi horror film you might have missed. 🤯

In this hidden gem, Reedus stole the spotlight in a Guillermo del Toro thriller that has fans still talking! 👀

Want to know which film it is and why you NEED to watch it?

When most people hear the name of Norman Reedus, his long-running TV role as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead franchise is more than likely the first thing to come to mind, but he also has a long list of film appearances that are worth acknowledging as well. One of Reedus’ most famous film roles was one that came under Guillermo del Toro’s direction when the two worked together on Blade II. What some people may not know, however, is that they had previously worked together on another film almost five years before that. Mimic wasn’t just Reedus’ second film as an actor; it was also del Toro’s second film as a director/screenwriter. It does not get mentioned all too often when it comes to the discussion of del Toro’s best films, but it was an early indicator that the Oscar-winning filmmaker had a bright and legendary career ahead of him.

Although Reedus only appeared in a small supporting role, it was quite a big deal for him as it opened the door for other opportunities and even led to his reunion with the director for Blade II. It may not be one of the most talked-about works for either of them, but it’s more than worth checking out for horror fans, or even just fans who are curious to see how both of them managed to start off their respective careers.

Mimic Was an Early Indicator of Guillermo del Toro and Norman Reedus’ Talents

Although It Was Only The Second Film For Both of Them, It Was a More Than Fitting Introduction of Their Abilities to the Movie-going Public

Image via Miramax. Image via Miramax. Image via Miramax.

From Anaconda to even Jurassic Park, there was an unexpected resurgence of creature features in the 1990s, and Guillermo del Toro’s Mimic is one that, while often overlooked compared to the others, is considered to be one of the best. The film spins a terrifying tale of the results of an experiment led by Dr. Susan Tyler, in which she genetically engineered a new species of insect, referred to as the “Judas breed”, which is meant to wipe out the population of cockroaches in New York City carrying a fatal disease. Three years later, Susan and her associates make the terrifying discovery that not only are the bugs still alive, despite initially being bred to live extremely short lifespans, but that they’ve evolved in more horrific ways than one and are set on eradicating their only real predator on the food chain: mankind.

As the follow-up to his independent debut film, Cronos, Mimic proved exactly what del Toro was capable of when given a higher budget in a major Hollywood production. The end result was not just one of the most entertaining horror movies of the ’90s, but one of the most underrated works of del Toro’s entire career.

Although del Toro would disown the initial theatrical cut, citing creative differences with the studio heads at Miramax, the film premiered to a relatively warm reception, and to this day, it’s seen as one of the most effective (albeit underrated) creature features to come out of the decade. One of the most glowing reviews came from Roger Ebert, and although he was often harsh on horror films as he held a very high standard for the genre, he admitted that he was “surprised at how effective Mimic is”, awarding it three and a half out of a possible four stars.

One does not attend “Mimic” hoping for more than a few new twists on the durable old idea; such movies, like thrill rides at parks, work every single time if they have been well planned and constructed. But “Mimic” is superior to most of its cousins, and has been stylishly directed by Guillermo del Toro, whose visual sense adds a certain texture that makes everything scarier and more effective. It’s not often that a movie like this can frighten me, but I was surprised at how effective “Mimic” is.

As for Reedus, who was a complete and definitively unknown actor at the time of its release, the film was quite a big deal for him in more ways than one. Even though his role wasn’t that of a main character, the impact that he had on the only scene in which he appeared made it obvious that he had all the potential to be a bigger star with bigger roles.

Norman Reedus Had a Small But Memorable Role in Mimic

Despite Having Only Around a Minute of Screen Time, The Actor Takes Complete Control Over His One Scene

Image via Miramax.

Norman Reedus’ First Films (1997)
Role
IMDb Rating

Floating
Van
6.4

Mimic
Jeremy
6.0

Six Ways to Sunday
Harold
6.1

1997 was a big year for Norman Reedus as it marked the beginning of his acting career when he appeared in not just one, but a total of three films. While his real on-screen debut happened in February of that year with the lead role in the independent drama, Floating, his small but effective part in Mimic, which premiered six months later in August, marked his first appearance in a film produced by a major Hollywood studio. In the film, he appears about midway through the story as Jeremy, an employee at a water filtration plant who, thanks to his association with Susan’s assistant, Remy (he plays bass in her band), can assist in their investigation by unveiling the recovered corpse of just one of the many evolved Judas breed.

Although the character only appears in just one scene, the actor’s brief but effective performance helps sell it as one of the most memorable parts of the entire film. While the horrifying reveal of the rotting, maggot-infested Judas breed corpse is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers simply for the grotesque visual alone, it’s really the energy of Reedus’ presence that helps make it a standout moment by also adding a slight amount of humor to it.

With the limited amount of screen time he does have, Reedus makes the most of every line with his delivery and takes such great advantage of his role that the audience can tell exactly who his character is without really knowing anything about him. It’s an incredibly rare thing for an actor with almost no prior experience to take such control of a scene the way he did, and it’s enough to make anyone wonder why he wasn’t a bigger part of the story.

It’s the kind of performance that not only legitimizes the phrase that there are no small parts but proves that Reedus, even in the infancy of his career, was no small actor. Although he has, thankfully, since gone on to score opportunities to play much more prominent characters both on TV and in film, with his most recent role being in the John Wick spin-off, Ballerina, his part as Jeremy shows just how well he, as an actor, can utilize his talent to make something so small feel so big.

Why Mimic is a Must-See For Any Horror Fan

It’s Also a Treat For Fans of del Toro and Reedus Who Might Be Curious About Their Earlier Work

Despite the mostly positive reception that the initial theatrical cut received, it turns out that del Toro himself wasn’t all too pleased with it. The director has gone on record claiming that the creative differences between him and controversial producers and former heads of Miramax, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, got in the way of his vision being fully realized. While it could be argued that the theatrical cut isn’t quite the disaster del Toro sees it as, the director’s cut was released in 2011 (which he was prouder to openly promote) and admittedly offers a much more well-rounded experience with an additional 7 minutes of footage that does make more of difference than some might think.

The main cast, from Mira Sorvino to Josh Brolin, are all perfectly suited for their roles, but it’s really the bugs and their unforgettable designs that are the real stars of the film. Even though some of the CGI effects aren’t as strong by today’s standards, del Toro did quite a remarkable job making them feel as terrifying and real as possible.

The director has made no secret over the years how he has lifted inspiration from other movies in the making of his own, and Mimic is one that very much feels like a modern-day take on the kind of 1950s sci-fi B-movies that would feature attacks from mutated giant insects, with a more grimy ’90s visual aesthetic. With his masterful ability at building and releasing tension, creating a never-ending mood of darkness, along with a claustrophobic atmosphere with a that’s sure to scare the daylight out of even those with no fear of insects, regardless of their size, it has just about everything that a horror fan could possibly ask for. Mimic isn’t just the film that marked the true beginning of the careers of a beloved filmmaker and an iconic actor; it’s also perhaps the most overlooked inclusion of their respective filmographies that is more than deserving of being talked about far more often.