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Of the 108 Stephen King adaptations for film or TV, I am only familiar with a handful of them - 16 to be exact (counting also the film under review). Frank Darabont joins a list of remarkable past alumni (Brian De Palma, Stanley Kubrick, David Cronenberg, John Carpenter) with this well-crafted monster movie with pretensions. Actually, Darabont is no newcomer to Stephen King territory - having already based three of his four feature-length movies on his work! - but this is the first movie I've seen from the director and, perhaps significantly, the only one of the three which is horror-related. Frankly, I wasn't even aware of the film at all before reviews of its DVD release started cropping up through my Amazon friends. As far as I can recall, theatrical release wasn't spread so widely, perhaps the name Stephen King (because of rampant overexposure over the years) nowadays no longer enjoys the same crowd-pulling effect as it did during his heyday. Still, judging by that modest crowd of actors assembled for the film and its clearly intentional "realism" (read a flat, made-for-TV look and relatively restrained gore), the film-makers hardly endeavored to boost its box-office chances any. Besides, we have lately been literally invaded by monster/alien movies so that it isn't hard for one (even as solid as this one is) to get lost in the shuffle. This story takes place in a small seaside American town that wakes up one morning to find itself enveloped in a mysterious cloud of thick mist. Soon enough, it becomes abundantly evident that this houses a barrage of slimy, unnaturally-enlarged and very deadly creatures of the bugs variety. To this tried-and-tested formula, Darabont and King add other much-used elements (religious fanaticism, military incompetence, scientific experimentation, impending apolcalypse, etc.) but take them beyond their bleakest and most ironic possibilities. The last half-hour, in fact, is where the film gets all choked up in message-mongering - complete with an overwhelmingly melancholic score. Indeed, learning that Darabont has even "presented" his own original black-and-white vision (as opposed to version) of this film on DVD only adds smoke to the fiery theory that this was intended from the start to be much more than a mere monster movie. Despite good work all around and the best intentions, THE BIRDS (1963), it certainly ain't... Anyhow, the festering tensions between the diverse factions trapped (for most of the film) inside a supermarket and the inherent suspense present in the group's generally unsuccessful excursions on the "outside" are skillfully handled and, despite the anonymity of the actors involved, some of the townspeople are blessed with full-blooded characterizations, most prominently Marcia Gay Harden (as the unbalanced, ultra-religious spinster). Most viewers won't fine the characters in this film intriguing but you can't deny Marcia Gay. I was pretty tired the night I watched it but it never let me take even a yawn! The story was superb with great thrills and suspense, but the thing that intrigued me most was the story had some realistic touch. Altogether I have to say this movie is not worth a miss.Read full review
When Stephen King wrote his book of short stories, one story stuck out in my mind the the most "The Mist". It seemed to capture all that a good horror short story should en capsule. The movie was no disappointment. I won't discuss the ending, but I preferred the book's ending over the movie. If the CG had been up to par a little bit more than this could have possible been a 5 out of 5. Still well done and does King's vision must justice. My wife did not like the language, but I found that aspect to make the scene's more believable. People do curse under pressure and the "Christian" in the film plays her role to the absolute best. Her faith makes you hate her, but for extremist, well that is the point. Hope you enjoy.
What I love about Stephen King is that over the many years as a writer he has never failed in writing a novel that a good director and screenwriter could take and make into an enjoyable movie. I am not sure if King hand-picks who directs and produces these films, but in The Mist and other greats like Storm of the Century, The Shining, IT, Misery, his words are transformed through great scripts and great actors. In The Mist, those who enjoy suspense thrillers (even if never seeing a Stephen King novel tranformed into a movie before) should be pleased. Within the first 30 minutes of this movie or less, it is clear that things are "not as they seem." The audience is instantly curious in what's to come. This movie doesn't have a real "twist" to it but when the plot is revealed its intriguing. It makes you same "hmmm, what if?" all the while keeping your attention throughout. What I also like about these type of films are the moments when it appears everything and everyone is quiet, soft spoken or faint and then you get a jolt from the slightest actions - you will find some of this in this film. Personally, there hasn't been anything in the suspense/thriller/horror genre to impress me much in a while other than the SAW movies but The Mist was a welcomed "change in scenery" if you will.Read full review
If you like the stories of H.P. Lovecraft then you'll appreciate this movie. Based on a novella by Stephen King, Frank Darabont brings a dark, intense story to the big screen and does it very well with just the right amount of violence and gore. The pace is good and each scene adds to the elements of isolation, distrust, desperation, madness and the unknown. The best part of this movie is that you see everything that is happening from a first person point-of-view. Throughout the movie I was reminded of when I was a child and dare not look under the bed or in the closet. If I remain in bed with the covers over me then nothing can get me. This movie poses an experiment of sorts when everyone you know gets under the covers with you. The physical mist may hide the monsters out there, but what about those in plain sight or inside of us?Read full review
Far be it a secret that many of Stephen Kings' novels of Great Horror slumped into Cinema Productions. (Though recent Hollywood, in most instances alongside King himself, have brought significantly harder life to film- '1408' for example). Now, King has brought to film his short story "The Mist"; and frankly - It Does Not Fail !! The worst electrical storm on record has a small coastal Maine Town assessing the damages to their homes and businesses. Locals have flocked to the town's only Grocery Store to stock up on supplies while Police, Fire and Military Personnel blanket the surrounding area. As a result of the Storm, everything is out — power, phones, and radios — leaving the town cut-off from the rest of the world. And alas the storm has also left behind an Ominous Mist that quickly shrouds the town, trapping those inside the Grocery Store when it appears that bloodthirsty, inhuman Monsters are lurking outside. Panic and Confusion Reign inside the store as people struggle to decide what to do next. Three distinct groups begin to emerge: 1) those who want to find a safe means to escape, led by painter and family man David Drayton (Thomas Jane); 2) those who choose not to believe there's anything Evil in the Mist, led by David's neighbor, Brent Norton (Andre Braugher); and 3) those who embrace the chaos and believe the world is coming to an end, led by the religious zealot Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden). With the emergence of these groups, 'The Mist' transcends normal Horror Movie conventions and becomes an enlightening study of religion, class, and human nature in the face of tragedy. Friends and neighbors suddenly become enemies because of the group they've chosen. David and the Maintenance Crew clash over how to fix the store's backup generator. David insists that the crew shouldn't risk their safety by going onto the store's roof to fix it, but the crew proceeds because only they (and not David) have the skills and training to make the right decisions. Later, Brent and David clash when a bloodied David tries to describe the Abominable Creature with sharp tentacles that attacked the maintenance crew as they tried to fix the generator. Brent believes David fabricated the story as retaliation for a lawsuit Brent filed against him several months back. All the while, the insufferable Mrs. Carmody is gaining support amongst the scared with her doomsday preaching and calls for expiation and sacrifice of those whom she believes are at fault. Writer/Director Frank Darabont does a tremendous job building and sustaining the suspense both inside and outside the store. The Monsters lurk quietly in the Mist, never totally visible until Darabont decides to thrust an attack upon us at the most unanticipated moments. Once the immediate threat from the Mist has subsided, and before the next one arrives, Darabont turns on the tension within the store as the forces battle over complex societal issues and right approach to dealing with the situation. For "The Mist" the Monsters are only a small part of the larger supporting cast. Although never fully exposed or explained, Darabont's terrifying creatures can best be described as flies, spiders and other creatures on steroids — they're ten times their normal size, with razor sharp teeth and penetrating claws. The formulaic failure of past Stephen King adaptations have met the Modern Day Success' that truly grind-out the Horror King always intended !! SEE THIS !! 5-Star - Cannot Fail You !!Read full review
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