Ancient Horror Resurfaces in Gritty New Feature MIMIK

Shapeshifting Terror Meets Emotional Reckoning in Bold Independent Film

A haunting new vision in independent horror is set to shake audiences to their core. MIMIK, a violent and visceral feature debuting this year, brings a terrifying new creature into the genre canon—a shapeshifting entity born from trauma, suspicion, and the fractured bonds of friendship.

Conceived from a sketch drawn during a trip to Aruba by writer-director Paul Matte, MIMIK evolved from a spark of inspiration into a full-scale feature film outline within days. Producer Peter Nash Garas was so gripped by the script that he signed on after a single read-through, joining an already battle-tested producing duo: Paul Matte and Tierra Jones, who previously collaborated on Hotspot in Montreal.

Set in a crumbling industrial town, MIMIK follows Mira, a recovered addict haunted by her past and hunted by something far worse—a monster that mimics her friends after a mysterious disappearance tears their group apart. As suspicion spirals and blood is spilled, Mira and her companions retrace her steps to a rehab facility with ties to the creature’s origins.

With influences drawn from John Carpenter’s The Thing, MIMIK offers a youthful, grounded twist on classic body horror, exploring mistrust, identity, and survival. The shapeshifter at the film’s core features a one-of-a-kind creature design, realized by ZAMCO Studios, with a custom 3D-printed prototype hand built exclusively for the production.

Cinematographer Rividu Mendis brings the world of MIMIK to life with chilling beauty and textured realism. His attention to detail elevates every frame, a collaboration born from his and Paul’s early work on a commercial shoot in Toronto.

With five lead characters offering emotionally rich, performance-driven roles—and gritty, high-value locations secured entirely through industry relationships—MIMIK stands as a testament to creative ambition and collaborative power in indie horror.

A short version of MIMIK is currently in post-production and eyeing a festival premiere. Distribution conversations are underway for the feature.

Interview with the MIMIK Creators

1. MIMIK began as a simple sketch—how did that raw idea mature into a fully realized horror film?
“Once I had the first few sketches down on paper the creative process really kicked in. A close friend of mine always tells me as a creator to ask the “Whys” – meaning “Why did I draw this?” “Why am I scared of this?” “Why are these characters in this dark alley?”. In following this line of questioning, the whole story revealed itself to me. This creature can use your closest friends’ voices against you. The writing is the fun part where the “whys” never stop. Ultimately that mistrust of authenticity is a question I face constantly and will explore in this movie.” – Paul

2. How did the writing process evolve once the initial concept was born? Were there any unexpected turns in developing the story?
“We started pre-production with an early version of the script that was vague in its description of the locations and we hadn’t carved out the unique characters we ended up with. While we secured locations and worked out casting for the proof shoot Paul had plenty of time to dig deeper into the plot and decide where the soul really takes place. A couple major unexpected turns happened mid-shoot while we made the proof-of-concept that we navigated and capitalized on. We planned on having extras for the party scene – which we ended up not having. And so the whole “party” is really just the main cast getting hammered in a crappy apartment for no good reason – with Mira, the now sober protagonist forced to reluctantly observe the misbehaviour.” – Peter

3. What did you learn about your team during the making of MIMIK that you didn’t know before?
“We saw passion for filmmaking come from every department that worked on MIMIK. Our Head of Wardrobe and Key Makeup artist both drove four hours to spend the weekend shooting with us. Over the course of the shoot we learned that we brought in the right people. Having working experience with most departments gave us the freedom to communicate freely and creatively. There is no shortage of creativity and love for filmmaking when the right project is being executed.” – Paul

4. You’ve collaborated previously—what makes this team dynamic work so well under the pressure of genre filmmaking?
“Tierra and I had the pleasure of working on Hotspot – a comedic short film – in Montreal. It was my first time taking on a producer role and I learned so much from her kind way in managing people. She brings in people she believes in and I do the same. The pressure of filmmaking doesn’t feel so harsh when you have a team you believe in and it produces partners who trust you. Peter and Tierra both represent the creative work as loyally as I do and it shines through in the final product.” – Paul

5. The creature in MIMIK is more than just a monster—it’s a presence that blends in. How did you approach designing something that feels both familiar and deeply wrong?
“I fell in love with the idea that this entity has always been here. From the moment humans inhabited the area, they would have been hunted and tormented by this monster that preys on those in the fringes of society. The titular monster represents a fraction of the horror within the film; as it gets lost in the human conflict unfolding and capitalizes on those it isolates. It absolutely blends in. It could have been watching Mira her whole life for all she knows – but now that it’s hunting her, anybody could be the creature and nobody can be trusted.” – Paul

6. How did the physical design of the monster inform how the actors performed their fear or suspicion on set?
“We are keeping the design for the entire monster under wraps for now as it will only be shown (very darkly) in the feature-length movie. The hand of the creature was on set with us during the shoot and all the actors could see how horrifying it looked both in person and on camera. It is freaky!” – Peter

7. MIMIK plays with themes of identity, addiction, and fear. What drew you to the idea of a shapeshifter as a metaphor for personal demons?
“We all have personal demons that are very hard to see. Imagine seeing a version of yourself that is a killer or beast that preys on the weak. I think that’s the beauty buried within the horror of this film. We get to see the creature portraying various characters and showing the world the darkest version of them.” – Paul

8. The atmosphere in the film is gritty and raw—how did the environment help tell the story?
“Building a unique world was important to us on this one. Gritty, destitute and isolating environments are all ones that give our characters reason to seek something new. I believe the film will send our characters on such a dark path that all they’ll want in the world is to get back to their regular lives – which aren’t far from horror already.” – Paul

9. You filmed in some visually rich, production-friendly locations. How did access to these spaces elevate the story you were telling?
“We spent weeks looking for the right fit for the short shoot but the time paid off. We impressed everyone on the team with the locations we had. There are a lot of people shooting short horror films on weekends all over the world and a lot of them are great. That’s why we put a strong emphasis on our production design and locations that add high value to the frame. We secured three gritty locations that bring so much storytelling on their own to the movie to set our project apart.” – Peter

10. With practical effects playing a major role, what were some of the challenges—or surprises—you encountered on set?
“The Claw – as we called it – was an anchor for the project. While we were bringing people on to work with us, it was the most alluring creative element we had. Once we had it on set, not breaking it became our highest priority as it was made with small pins keeping it together. Our key makeup artist Dalene Gallo handled it with expert care and added terrifying elements to it right before we put it in front of the camera. Kudos to her!” – Paul

11. The film leans into psychological horror while still being violent and visceral. How did you strike that balance in both writing and filming?
“The violence and viscera will truly begin once we start filming the real deal. This version we have made is about as light hearted as it gets. We aimed to introduce our audience to the world and the characters in it before we have to send them off on a wild and unforgiving rollercoaster ride of terror. In the feature script, there is plenty of personal conflict that escalates into violence and the page count leaves room for a lot of high-intensity sequences that will be well worth the wait.” – Paul

12. What were some key visual motifs or techniques you used to heighten the paranoia as the group begins to unravel?
“Without spoiling too much of the main film, expect the characters to become further isolated from the town and each other as the story progresses. Long moments alone in this movie are all the reason a character needs to fear anyone who appears in front of them” – Paul

13. Each character has their own past and personality—how did that diversity of perspective feed into the tension on screen?
“Embedding contrast between characters on the page is the catalyst for conflict to occur on camera. Nobody wants to watch a movie where all the characters are the same and they all get along just fine. Where’s the fight gonna happen?! We started off with a group of friends barely sticking together to begin with. What happens to them next is our joy to share in the next chapter.” – Paul

14. When writing these roles, did you have specific actors in mind—or did the characters naturally grow into something that attracted big talent?
“We had five truly distinct roles to cast. Even still, we are always looking for the best actors available. It is fun to be surprised in the casting process and pass that on to the audience once we film!” – Peter

15. What do you hope Mimik contributes to the horror genre?
“We want to add an iconic monster to the hall of fame of horror. Freddy Kruger, Pennywise the Clown, Jason Vorhees, MIMIK. This creation comes from deep within and reflects our most primal fears just as the others do. Bringing the audience shocking moments along the way and memorable characters will allow us to grow the MIMIK franchise to the heights of some of horror’s best.” – Paul

16. Can you see yourselves returning to this world again—or is this story complete?
“We will absolutely be back. Stay on top of things on our socials for news of where we will be filming the feature film and where it can be watched when the time comes” – Peter

Follow the Team:
@paul_matte | @petergaras | @tierrajonesofficial

Photographer: Wilson Mathew