Mimics – Movie Review (3/5)

MIMICS is a horror-comedy that hits hard and gets extremely dark with its ventriloquist storyline. If you’re a fan of genre-hybrids and prefer it served with a story featuring an important moral, then you’re in luck. The runtime is a strong 90 minutes, and I was well-entertained and happily recommend it. Read our full Mimics movie review here!

MIMICS is a horror-comedy with a plot that has a very important message. Primarily, don’t sign a contract in blood without reading the fine print. Or any of the print, really. Also, the sad but true proverb that “if something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.” For fans of genre-hybrids and ventriloquist characters, this is a solid choice.

I am a very big fan of dark comedy mixed with the thriller and horror genres, so I was a happy camper. Even the runtime of 90 minutes worked extremely well for me. Even though our rating isn’t higher, it is a strong recommendation to watch. I would probably give this 3½ out of 5 if we did half ratings. I enjoyed it!

Continue reading our Mimics movie review below. Find it in theaters on Friday the 13th of February, 2026.

Make a deal with the devil, you just might… drown?

Mimics is the story of impressionist Sam Reinhold (Kristoffer Polaha), who isn’t doing very well. By that, I mean the audience doesn’t respond well to him when he gets up on stage for open mic nights at his preferred stage in Reno. His impressionism “show” (and I do use that term very loosely here) is a comedy show that just is not funny.

Sure, his impressions are fairly good, but there’s no flow (or logic, for that matter) in the show he presents.

So, when he is suddenly offered a deal by an agent, Sam is quick to jump onboard. He signs his name and adds a little blood to the contract, referring to him as “indentured” before receiving a ventriloquist puppet which he is now to use in his show. As soon as he puts his hand into the puppet, he is somehow connected to it, and he is suddenly brilliant and funny… and the best ventriloquist ever.

Unfortunately for Sam, he didn’t watch the opening scene of this movie. If he had, he would have known that the owner of this puppet ended his life violently.

As the puppet takes charge, Sam loses control, and that’s a dangerous situation. Not least, when the show involves him betting his life that the puppet will act as desired. The audience loves the new show, but Sam is slowly losing himself, and even those he love are suddenly in danger.

Kristoffer Polaha shines in Mimics

I have to say that I loved Kristoffer Polaha in this horror-comedy because he comes across as a really good guy. As Sam, we meet someone who has dreams, but also wants to help support and take care of his ailing dad, Marvin (Stephen Tobolowsky). It was also his dad’s dream that Sam would make it big, and I loved that element of this story.

Also, his co-worker, Virginia (Mōriah), is a smart and sweet woman who sees the good in Sam. Of course, this also means she sees the change in him, as the puppet takes charge.

Alongside Kristoffer Polaha, Mōriah, and Stephen Tobolowsky, we also get to enjoy a wonderful supporting cast. Most characters are perfect for this genre-hybrid as they are either kind, crazy, or just plain weird. In the cast are Chris Parnell, Jesse Hutch, Jason Marsden, and Austin Basis.

Watch Mimics in theaters on Friday the 13th

This is the directorial debut of Kristoffer Polaha, who also stars in Mimics. I enjoyed this quirky blend of horror and comedy with a dash of romance. I enjoyed the pacing of this movie, which is often where first-timers can struggle. However, in keeping with the hour-and-a-half runtime, Kris Polaha ensured a strong feature film.

Many viewers may recognize Kristoffer Polaha from the many Christmas movies he’s been in. However, genre fans will probably recognize him from Wonder Woman 1984, Jurassic World: Dominion, Beneath the Leaves, or from The Shift, which he starred in. Actually, he was also in Harlan Coben’s Shelter on Prime Video.

I liked the obvious commentary on fame. Or rather, some people’s desire to achieve fame at any cost. Of course, this comes from the story of the screenplay, which comes from Marc Oakley. I found both the core story, the characters, and the evolution of this story to be very entertaining.

With Mimics getting released on the first Friday the 13th of 2026, which is also the day before Valentine’s Day 2026, we’re getting yet another great date movie for genre fans. Whether you watch it for horror, comedy, romance, or all three, Mimics is a good choice.

Mimics will be out in theaters only starting Friday the 13th of February, 2026.

Details

Director: Kristoffer Polaha
Writer: Marc Oakley
Cast: Kristoffer Polaha, Mōriah, Chris Parnell, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jesse Hutch, Jason Marsden, Austin Basis