The Mist

Director: Frank Darabont
Producers: Frank Darabont, Marin Shafer, Liz Glotzer
Writers: Frank Darabont

Based on the Novella written by the brilliant Stephen King.

Thomas Jane as David Drayton
Laurie Holden as Amanda Dumfries
Nathan Gamble as Billy Drayton
Toby Jones as Ollie Weeks
Marcia Gay Harden as Mrs. Carmody


I love Frank Darabont, I really do. He has got to be the best adapter of novel to screenplay I've ever seen. The Shawshank Redemption and the Green Mile are both pieces of beautiful art. Not to mention his other-worldly directing abilities. This man is truly fantastic at what he does. He creates magic on the screen. It seems like Stephen King and Frank Darabont are a match made in movie heaven.

Which is one of the reasons why I was so excited to see this film. I have to admit though, I was a little worried that it would become another cheesy horror film with stupid monsters and a stupid plot line.(I read the novella after I watched the film).  I was pleasantly surprised and was definitely not disappointed. I found it extremely compelling and made me seriously question what I thought the human condition was.

It seems like a basic horror film at the start. This Mist rolls in and a few dozen people are trapped inside a supermarket, Our main character David Drayton and his son Billy are among those people, with no real knowledge about what the mist is and whats in it thats been causing mass panic. Until a few encounter it first hand, killing one of them. Those few are Drayton, Ollie Weeks, two mechanics and Norm the bag boy, the unfortunate victim. They come in contact with these barbed tentacles, they cannot see what it is attached too. At first no one believes them until they see it for themselves, which they do of course. During all of this madness, A catholic extremist Mrs Carmody is preaching that this is the end of days, and to be prepared to meet your maker. Her preachings become more and more violent as the film goes on, she speaks quite fondly of 'Expiation' (which basically means atonement or retribution). At this point in the film, it stops being a normal horror movie and becomes a insight into the human survival psyche. Carmody whips everyone up, gets everyone scared and they eventually follow her to violent means of survival and worship, and eventual sacrifice. A few strong willed individuals lead by Drayton, his son included, escape the supermarket to seek rescue. Which is where the brilliant ending come forth which I was not at all prepared for. I will not disclose the specifics, It's such a shock, such a blow, I was left speechless. You will not see it coming.

I was blown away by this film. The acting is fantastic from all angles, all characters. It really portrays the tense and claustrophobic feel of them being trapped. Thomas Jane is a really underrated actor, his roles before this one didn't give him the chance to shine. He was shining brightly in The Mist. I've never seen Toby Jones take a wrong step. He was fantastic in 'Amazing Grace', he was fantastic in 'The Painted Veil" and he is fantastic in the Mist. But the real wonder was Marcia Gay Harden, who portrayed Mrs Carmody. She was so believable it was scary, I thought halfway through "did they just get a crazy zealot to come in and ramble?". She deserves Academy recognition for that performance.

I loved this movie, a truly unique horror film. So refreshing.

Im giving it 4 1/2 stars.