The Mist
Apart from John Cusack’s 1408 earlier this year, it’s been a while since a Stephen King story hit the big screen. The last one, if memory serves me correctly, was 2003’s truly truly appalling Dreamcatcher. Fortunately The Mist, based on a King novella, comes with a solid pedigree. You see, The Mist is written and directed by Frank Darabont, who has been responsible for 2 other outstanding Stephen King adaptations – the supernaturally tinged The Green Mile and completely non-horror The Shawshank Redemption.
The Mist has a simple premise. After an intense storm strikes a small New England town, a number of locals head to their local supermarket to stock up on supplies. While there, a mysterious mist rolls in over the nearby lake and engulfs the town. It soon becomes apparent that bloodthirsty creatures are lurking in the mist, trapping the townspeople in the store.
The Mist is a straight Survival-Horror movie, in that it’s not about gung-ho attitudes and heroics. Rather it’s about largely defenceless people looking after themselves and their interests, even if it means some very selfish, very cowardly acts.
In an age in which we’re living, where the ordinary man feels overwhelmingly powerless when faced with such massive issues as global food shortages, terrorism, crime and environmental change, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing more Survival Horror movies. They capture our sense of dread and paranoia. In fact, The Mist’s tagline is Fear Changes Everything.
I personally don’t think it’s a coincidence that the first creatures we glimpse in The Mist look horribly fake. The true monsters of The Mist aren’t beasties. Rather, they are people, whose unchecked fears quickly strip away their humanity… as the following exchange from the film demonstrates:
Amanda Dunfrey: You don't have much faith in humanity, do you?
Dan Miller: None, whatsoever.
Amanda Dunfrey: I can't accept that. People are basically good; decent. My god, David, we're a civilized society.
David Drayton: Sure, as long as the machines are working and you can dial 911. But you take those things away, you throw people in the dark, you scare the shit out of them - no more rules.
There’s a lot of blaming and accusation that happens in The Mist, as characters strive to justify their actions. It reminded me a lot of the mindset that seems to be driving the wave of savage attacks on foreigners that’s currently afflicting South Africa.
In terms of performances, the cast of The Mist consists of a number of faces you often recognise but just can’t put a face to. The 2 big standouts though are Thomas Jane as the appealing ordinary man hero, and Marcia Gay Harden, who has a ball as a loony Christian spinster (a Stephen King staple), whose Biblical knowledge doesn’t seem to extend outside of Revelations. It’s Gay Harden’s Mrs. Carmody who polarises the trapped townsfolk, and really riles up the cinema audience.
The Mist isn’t outstanding but it makes a solidly good, and thoughtful, horror film for adults. One thing to bear in mind though is that the Survival-Horror genre is pretty grim and intense, so don’t purchase your ticket for The Mist expecting a rollicking thrill-fest. There are some laugh-out-loud moments but ultimately you won’t leave the cinema feeling happy.
The Mist has a simple premise. After an intense storm strikes a small New England town, a number of locals head to their local supermarket to stock up on supplies. While there, a mysterious mist rolls in over the nearby lake and engulfs the town. It soon becomes apparent that bloodthirsty creatures are lurking in the mist, trapping the townspeople in the store.
The Mist is a straight Survival-Horror movie, in that it’s not about gung-ho attitudes and heroics. Rather it’s about largely defenceless people looking after themselves and their interests, even if it means some very selfish, very cowardly acts.
In an age in which we’re living, where the ordinary man feels overwhelmingly powerless when faced with such massive issues as global food shortages, terrorism, crime and environmental change, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing more Survival Horror movies. They capture our sense of dread and paranoia. In fact, The Mist’s tagline is Fear Changes Everything.
I personally don’t think it’s a coincidence that the first creatures we glimpse in The Mist look horribly fake. The true monsters of The Mist aren’t beasties. Rather, they are people, whose unchecked fears quickly strip away their humanity… as the following exchange from the film demonstrates:
Amanda Dunfrey: You don't have much faith in humanity, do you?
Dan Miller: None, whatsoever.
Amanda Dunfrey: I can't accept that. People are basically good; decent. My god, David, we're a civilized society.
David Drayton: Sure, as long as the machines are working and you can dial 911. But you take those things away, you throw people in the dark, you scare the shit out of them - no more rules.
There’s a lot of blaming and accusation that happens in The Mist, as characters strive to justify their actions. It reminded me a lot of the mindset that seems to be driving the wave of savage attacks on foreigners that’s currently afflicting South Africa.
In terms of performances, the cast of The Mist consists of a number of faces you often recognise but just can’t put a face to. The 2 big standouts though are Thomas Jane as the appealing ordinary man hero, and Marcia Gay Harden, who has a ball as a loony Christian spinster (a Stephen King staple), whose Biblical knowledge doesn’t seem to extend outside of Revelations. It’s Gay Harden’s Mrs. Carmody who polarises the trapped townsfolk, and really riles up the cinema audience.
The Mist isn’t outstanding but it makes a solidly good, and thoughtful, horror film for adults. One thing to bear in mind though is that the Survival-Horror genre is pretty grim and intense, so don’t purchase your ticket for The Mist expecting a rollicking thrill-fest. There are some laugh-out-loud moments but ultimately you won’t leave the cinema feeling happy.
Comments
What I hated though was how the ending COMPLETELY differ from the book.
It's weird that the film makers actually went more hardcore than the original source material. Normally they go the opposite direction and soften the distasteful elements.
RC, The Mist is definitely worth watching. It's a rare quality horror film that actually plays to adults.