release year: 1997
genre: horror
viewing setting: home laserdisc, 4/13/98
what I expected: some kind of scary bug movie
what I got: something that makes you jump but makes no sense
synopsis: Three years ago, a geneticist used mutated bugs to wipe out cockroaches carrying a disease. Now, the mutated bugs have REALLY mutated, to human size, and are breeding in the sewers.
impressions: This was a scare ride, meaning that it had a lot of cheap tricks to make the audience jump. Some were good, some weren't, but at least none of them were cheesy. The plot, on the other hand, had much cheese. Several elements were contrived, and a few seemed unnecessary. Another problem: bad camera angles + dark scenes = total audience confusion as to what's happening on-screen. Ugh. Total human fatalities: 6.
acting: I remain unimpressed with Mira Sorvino. She tries to be serious but it just isn't working for me.
final word: fairly low-rate horror movie; if you don't like bugs, you will be squeamish
rating: C-