The Mist Review

I'm on the fence with this one. One moment, I want to bash the film for its poor computer graphic imagery and weak sci-fi effects. On the other hand, I want to herald it as the most thought-inducing horror film I've seen this year. Last year, I watched The Descent and enjoyed it for its visceral horror. This year, I regard The Mist as doing the same job.

Stephen King's novella, of which this film is based on, puts you in the eye of the storm and makes you face your worst fear of all- the unpredictable, primitive human. The film unravels like this: A storm leaves a town in disarray and a mysterious fog in the distance creeps slowly, but not yet threatening, towards the community. The lead character drives his son and his not-so-friendly neighbor to the grocery store to pick up supplies. After a few casual conversations with the townspeople, a man comes running to the store with a bloody nose panicking, screaming that there is something in the mist. With no power or electricity, the phones and rescue are inaccessible so a few dozen of these folks are trapped in the supermarket with no idea what's waiting for them outside. Some panic and run for their cars, and after a brief moment of suspense, you hear blood-curdling screams. What god-awful thing is lurking in the mist? Is it chemical? Is it supernatural?

Without giving away the movie to all you buffs out there, this film exposes the soft underbelly of the science vs. religion fiasco. I did not expect this at all, but being a Biology major, I found it struck a chord much louder than I had ever anticipated. The rest of the film is for you to unwrap. I have not read the novel, nor have I even heard of the synopsis prior to watching the film. The director Frank Darabont did an excellent job retelling this Stephen King classic and even twisted the ending to make some walk out of the theater completely floored. You as the viewer will feel an uncontrollable urge to choke some of the characters such as Mrs. Carmody, who inflicts the most harm in the most unpredictable way. Some scenes stretched my patience, where I felt I was in the middle of the frenzy and needed to help the characters. The entire theater was in uproar during the film screaming at the cast of what to do.

The biggest accomplishment that I commend Darabont for doing is changing the ending where you don't get that "All is good in the world" feeling. It rattles you. It makes you replay the last fifteen minutes in your head over and over to see what else they could have done. If that's not your cup of chai, I would not recommend seeing The Mist. Otherwise, I give this film 4 big ones for its non-conventional approach and thought-provoking ending.