The Mist Review

Stephen King adaptations are a tricky task for any filmmaker. King’s long, vivid descriptions and inner-psychologies often get lost in their translation to the screen. Few King film adaptations have every really captured the horrifying, or uplifting, nature that his works provide. However, Frank Darabont is a champion at it, having crafted The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile to great critical acclaim. When Darabont and Dimension Films delivered The Mist, I was curious about what it was going to offer.

Darabont’s film takes a different turn then his previous King Adaptations. While the previous two were interested in the studies of men, The Mist expands that study with frightening imagery and a dense claustrophobic atmosphere. While it is likely to draw comparisons to other films like Alien, Poltergeist, and The Haunting, The Mist creates its own formula – and outcome – to decidedly wonderful effect. The sparse camera-work, wonderful sound effects, campy (at times) special effects, plot-driven story are incredible in a horror film. All of this works to dazzle, frighten, and impact the viewer.

A small town in Maine experiences a massive storm which leaves people’s homes shattered, cars crushed, and – strangely – family pets missing. David Drayton (An underutilized Thomas Jane) takes his son into town with his annoying neighbor to pick up supplies at the supermarket. However, they quickly become trapped inside, with a bunch of other shoppers, when the titular mist sweeps down upon the town.

Initially, the terror is created by the unknown elements of the mist. Shadows swirl about, loud noises are heard, but it comes to a head when one brave soul ventures outside only to be torn apart by an otherworldly creature. At this moment, the film shifts from a creature feature to an intense human social drama. Allegiances are formed in the store with the most vocal being a religious zealot portrayed by Marcia Gay Harden. This role could have delved quickly into campy and cliché, but Harden’s performance makes it more terrifying than anything that could be out in the mist. Chaos breaks out in the store to match the chaos that is ensuing in the outside world.

There are creature attacks as the store’s internal pressure rises. While the effects may lack the “special” at times, they are used convincingly enough. However, the sound effects are the true selling point of the creatures. Similar to The Exorcist, Darabont likes to conceal his evils until the last possible moment, building tension through the noises instead.

The best element of Darabont’s film though is the ending. Darabont wrote an ending that does not coincide with King’s novella, but King excitedly approved. In recent years, this is the most spectacular and surprising ending that I have seen. It will leave you shaken for days and raise interesting internal questions.

Overall, journeying into The Mist is worth your time, if you’re up for the adventure.

When To See It: Before It Leaves Theatres