Mickey 17 Review: Completely Insane

If you’re planning on watching Mickey 17 because you adored 2019’s Parasite, Bong Joon-ho’s groundbreaking Oscar winner, then let it be known that this film is very different, to say the least.

The Korean director returns to his science fiction roots of The Host, Snowpiercer and Okja with this epic, which is certified bonkers. It’s set in space, where mankind is trying to colonise a frozen planet called Niflheim as people attempt to flee Earth. In order to move to the new home, scientists need a test subject to try out the surroundings and ensure it’s safe for everyone else.  

Enter socially awkward Mickey, who signs up for the role of an expendable – a being who can essentially be killed (in various horrific ways) before being ‘reprinted’ – brought back to life with memories intact.  

While some critics are declaring it a masterpiece, I came out of my screening slightly baffled… because this film is made up of two promising stories, haphazardly stitched together.  

But let’s start with the positives. Any film that revolves around reanimating a dork, and involves alien planets requires some serious special effects, and Mickey 17 delivers. At no point was I taken out of the world due to a weird CGI moment – true craftsmanship is at work here. 

Bong Joon-ho makes some bold choices for this film, playing around with structure and musical motifs that take you by surprise. Despite the dystopian subject at its core, this is a genuinely funny film that made me laugh in some unexpected places, a common theme in his work.  

The performances in Mickey 17 are exceptionally committed, with Robert Pattinson standing out above all. His stilted, nasally tone is practically unrecognisable from any role he’s played before.  

Mickey is the biggest people-pleasing pushover you’ve ever met (even more than me, shockingly), taking horrific experiments and invasive questions with nothing more than a thumbs-up and a shrug of the shoulders. Pattinson captures his pitiful nature wonderfully, adding a dash of insanity that would be present for anyone willing to die repeatedly in the name of a corporation. 

He’s complimented by the – also slightly unhinged – Nasha, played by Naomi Ackie. Her introduction scene stands out, charming Mickey and winning the audience over, even with the dialogue absent in favour of the score. But I feel that her nuanced personality could have been explored further. More on that later.  

Most people who watch Mickey 17 will remember Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall, a petty, simple-minded and ego-driven politician who is the key antagonist. That’s mainly down to his grating voice, blindingly white shark-like teeth and outlandish mannerisms, which are very much inspired by Trump, as confirmed by the actor himself.  

Gwen Marshall, played by Toni Collette, is the real brains, quite literally whispering in his ear and telling him what steps to take next when someone throws him a curveball. The husband-and-wife duo are wonderfully detestable as villains.  

Because of the type of narcissistic character Marhsall is, he takes over most of the scenes he’s in… and that also applies to the core story itself.  

Image: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

I thought Mickey 17 was going to go in a different direction from the way it turned out, as the most interesting part is the concept of ‘multiples’ – in other words, when copies of one person are alive at the same time.  

We get to see some of the moral quandaries that plagued governments over several versions of one person. Do they both have a soul? Who is responsible if a crime is committed? Does one deserve to live more than the other? 

When multiples finally get to meet on-screen, there is a gripping tension that is insanely complex. We see personality clashes between the two beings, with one anger-fuelled version resenting the other weaker, more passive self. 

There’s also the question of love. How can a romantic relationship function if two copies of the same person exist and have the same desires? We get a taste of one way it might play out, in a very awkward fashion – a warning if you’re planning on seeing this film with your parents/offspring.  

Unfortunately, before we can delve into these meaty topics, the film changes tack – focusing on political parallels and invasion. While the multiples are still present in the story, they largely serve to drive negotiations and action. We don’t reach a satisfying conclusion for these beings. 

This is where the film leans into its alien setting, and I can’t just help but feel that, while we spent a lot of time with adventurous shots of Niflheim and its inhabitants, we could have instead been building more on the intriguing dynamic between Mickey and Nasha, a dynamic that was so strong in the former part of the movie.  

Some fans may disagree, loving the mishmash of concepts and ideas – especially if you’ve read the original Mickey7 book by Ashton Edward. But if you’re a sucker for character-driven tales like me, and don’t have time to read the source material, you may find the pace of Mickey 17 jarring and be left wishing for more.  

Image: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Should you watch Mickey 17? 

There is no doubt that Mickey 17 will certainly stick with you, with its bananas premise that strikes a solid balance between bleak and chaotically funny. Robert Pattinson yet again proves his versatility, taking on a wildly difficult role with an incredible level of depth. 

Like Companion, this film reflects some of the horrors we’re facing in the real world in a bizarre sci-fi package. However, in taking on such ambitious storytelling, it feels like two stories mashed into one. It’s not the same masterful pace seen in Parasite.  

Perhaps there’s a world where this could have felt more cohesive as a TV series… but you should judge that for yourself.  

Mickey 17 is out in cinemas this Friday, 7 March 2025. If you’re in the UK, you can get tickets from Cineworld, Vue and Odeon. Those in America can get them from AMC Theatres, Fandango and Atom Tickets.