“Mimesis” is set in a world where horror fans gather for a party and have no idea what “Night of the Living Dead” is. At one point a character is explaining “Night of the Living Dead” prompting confused gleams from everyone. Horror buffs really have no idea what “Night of the Living Dead” is? It’s not even a remotely rare film. “Mimesis” is part “Night of the Living Dead” and part “My Little Eye.” Two friends are invited by an acquaintance to attend a party with other horror buffs at a house to meet stars and talk movies. When party goer Duane passes out while drinking, he awakens to find himself in a waking nightmare where he and fellow party goer Judith find themselves fighting off what seem like zombies.
Though there’s no possible reason for this situation to occur, and no explanation for their black outs, their predicament proves to be particularly life threatening. After discovering other survivors, they realize they’re acting out “Night of the Living Dead,” the one horror movie that’s in the public domain. Good thing they didn’t wake up in “Robot Monster.” And how convenient is it that the African American character’s name is Duane while his blond counterpart is named Judith? The premise for “Mimesis” crumbles from the moment there’s a hint of an explanation as to what’s happening, mainly because the entire plot is so painfully convoluted. Even if something like this could happen, there’s no real guarantee everything would go exactly as planned.
I mean, what is stopping these people from just bolting and scattering down the road and in to the highway? Even in “Night of the Living Dead” there was heavy talk about simply speed walking past the living dead to get to civilization. Seriously, just run and scatter. And why didn’t anyone call the police about the disappearing farmers? “Mimesis” desperately tries to be a horror movie within a horror movie, with somewhat meta-storytelling, but so many of the devices just tend to fall flat. Director Douglas Schulze tries to convince the audience it might just be actual zombies attacking these horror fans, but when one of the villains shambles after them, there’s the apparent make up smear on said zombie.
As mentioned much of “Mimesis” begins with interesting tension and suspense, but then becomes impossible to buy, and very far fetched. What were the odds they’d have an African American, Blonde, and Mom and Dad arrive to the party? What if no one came? “Mimesis” has difficulty getting its premise moving, but it works in very rare instances thanks to the great walk on performance by Sid Haig, and a solid turn by Allen Maldonado. That said, “Mimesis” left me with too many questions to justify the far fetched premise, so despite the passing moments of creeps, it’s a poorly executed and forgettable horror entry.