Movie Review: The Mist

“As a species, we’re fundamentally insane.”

 

Many an author or screenwriter has developed a sense of credibility for moviegoers. They do so by having their fair share of written works that are successfully converted into film. Steven King is one of those authors. With multiple successes under his belt, including The Shining, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile, now his short story The Mist has been translated to the silver screen by Frank Darabont. Fortunately, this work proves to do King’s talent justice, resulting in a genuinely creepy, at times downright scary experience.

 

The story tells of a small New England town that falls under a suspicious and unnatural looking mist, rolling in over a mountain lake at the beginning of the movie after a freak thunderstorm. Like a good husband, the key character takes his son into town to gather some repair material and replacement food at the local grocery store. However, upon reaching the store, they end up trapped within as the mist engulfs the store, and unleashes a freakish Hell on Earth – literally according to some held captive in the store. Various plot turns and twists ensue, and anyone in the theater will likely be treated to someone screaming at some point, and others cheering at others.

 

Stylistically, the movie hits the mark with a gritty transfer, which gives the movie that backwater feeling, effectively pulling the audience into the setting of the movie. The audio transfer was well done, capturing the eerie ambience well and, during the times where things really get going, making my skin crawl. Finally, the filming technique and shot angles did a solid job keeping you pulled into the movie, and grabbed the viewers on several occasions.

 

On the acting front, notables included Thomas Jane in the lead role, shadowed by Marcia Gay Harden playing a religious zealot to a tee. Laurie Holden provided the typical eye candy, but didn’t really add much to the tension and could have been better cast. Fortunately, the later didn’t affect the movie plot to any real level, and was easily overlooked. I was hoping to see King do a cameo as he does from time to time, but failed to catch him if he did.

 

Now, with all this said, I am reviewing this having not read the short story. I have heard it is one to catch, and now having seen the movie, will make sure I get to it in due time. The screenwriter did dramatically change – or rather augment – the ending of the movie, so die hard followers of the written word should bail out on the movie 3 minute or so before the end, as suggested by one person on the forums. Otherwise, be prepared for an ending that will leave you talking afterwards, for good or bad.

 

Overall, in a rather dry movie season, you could do a lot worse than Steven King’s The Mist.