Mickey 17: A Sci-Fi Thriller That's More Than Just a Movie

Bong Joon Ho's latest film, Mickey 17, hits the screens at a time when its themes are eerily relevant. The film is set in 2054 on the frozen planet Niflheim. The story begins with a man, Mickey, who is about to die in an ice cave. Suddenly, another man, Timo, appears and leaves Mickey to die. Flashbacks reveal that Mickey and Timo were forced to flee Earth after their business failed, leaving them in debt to a cruel loan shark. They signed up to work in an off-world colony, where Mickey became an Expendable. These Expendables are workers who can be regenerated with the same memories every time they die, thanks to new biotechnology. This means Mickey, who works in a coal mine, can be killed and replaced repeatedly. Mickey is the only Expendable on Niflheim. He is used for dangerous tasks, like developing vaccines for alien viruses or testing new atmospheres. His body is thrown into a recycling pit after each death, all for the profit of the colony's ruler, Kenneth Marshall. Marshall and his wife live in luxury while the rest of the colony survives on bland food. The film takes a dark turn when Mickey escapes and finds a new version of himself, Mickey 18, already printed. The two must share their workload, meals, and even their girlfriend, Nasha. The two Mickeys have different personalities, which adds to the complexity of the story. Mickey 17 is anxious and people-pleasing, while Mickey 18 is rebellious and assertive. The second half of the film focuses on the Mickeys' attempts to pass as the same person. Meanwhile, the colony faces a new threat: swarms of giant, insect-like creatures. The climax is a battle between humans and these creatures in a snowstorm. The film is filled with dark humor, imaginative visuals, and gross-out moments. It's a thrilling watch, but it lacks the perfect structure of Bong's previous film, Parasite. Some narrative elements feel incomplete, and the voiceover is used to fill in gaps. The film's satire on capitalism is brutal. It shows a world where planets are exploited, native life forms are seen as pests, and human bodies are used for labor and then recycled. Despite this, the film ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that even after repeated deaths, a person can find meaning in a unique life.