In the same vein as The Relic and all those other movies about creepy-crawlies that go crunch in the night, this horror movie stars Mira Sorvino as an entomologist determined to find out exactly what has invaded the New York subway system. It's preposterous stuff, but the tale of oversized insects (a genetically enhanced species developed to eradicate an epidemic-spreading breed of cockroaches) is suitably gruesome and atmospheric thanks to Cronos director Guillermo del Toro's dark direction. Sorvino is believably tough, too, and smartly supported by Jeremy Northam, Charles S Dutton and Josh Brolin as potential monster munchies.

A disease carried by common cockroaches is killing Manhattan children. In an effort to stop the epidemic an entomologist, Susan Tyler, creates a mutant breed of insect that secretes a fluid to kill the roaches. This mutant breed was engineered to die after one generation, but three years later Susan finds out that the species has survived and evolved into a large, gruesome monster that can mimic human form.