Reviews of The Mist

Decent Stephen King horror adaptation

Posted : 1 month, 3 weeks ago on 19 August 2008 03:17 (A review of The Mist)

"As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up ways to kill one another. Why do you think we invented politics and religion?"

When it comes to adapting narratives from the maestro of horror literature, Stephen King, the outcomes have proved to be largely diverse. Stephen King's original novella of The Mist carries a fascinating premise and it was destined to be adapted for the big screen. King's largest fanatics must have breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was announced that the cinematic rendering of The Mist would be helmed by writer/director Frank Darabont. This prolific screenwriter-come-director earned his reputation after creating two successful film adaptations of Stephen King novels (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile). On top of this, Darabont's career started in horror when he wrote A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (one of the franchise's best), The Fly II and The Blob. Hence The Mist marks Darabont returning to form.

In the long run, the film received a varying critical reception. Darabont's fanboys of course faithfully lapped up the production while others couldn't grapple everything on offer. Darabont's The Mist possessed mountains of potential, but it's clear Darabont has passed his golden years (those familiar with Darabont's version of Indiana Jones 4 will undoubtedly agree). His script here strives too hard to impart sophistication in the backdrop of a standard horror movie. At the end of the day this challenging amalgamation tries to master too many things at once with limited success.

Following a ferocious storm in the town of Maine, a mysterious mist cloud begins to congregate the next morning. David Drayton (Jane) is an artist residing in Maine whose house is severely damaged by the violent storm. David travels into town with his son (Gamble) and neighbour (Braugher). As the dense, mysterious mist starts enveloping the entire area, David and his son are among a large group of terrified townspeople that become trapped in the local grocery store. David soon ascertains that there are things lurking in the mist...horrifying creatures that aren't of this world. As these said creatures surround the grocery store, residents must band together for a chance at survival. However, due to the disposition of human nature, David begins to wonder what is more threatening: the deadly creatures prowling in the mist, or those inside the store...the human kind that David has always thought of as his friends and neighbours.

The provocative and masterful screenplay penned by Frank Darabont explores and examines the dangers of human nature in our existing culture. He keeps the scares taut and frightening: when a large creature appears it's usually enshrouded in the thick mist. However the greatest aspect of the script is also the film's greatest flaw: the use of conventional characters. Darabont's intention was to essentially construct a social commentary to display the consequences of human nature in the worst of situations. He uses these character stereotypes as a way to hold up a mirror in order for us to see our modern society. The philosophical discussions play a profound role in the dialogue as well. However, using clichéd characters also retracts from the entire experience. As an audience it's easy to predict what will transpire next. By all means it's admirable to arrange a social commentary in the precincts of a mainstream horror movie, but it simply doesn't work as well as Darabont had intended.

That said, the people within the grocery store are ostensibly divided into two diverse categories - extras and protagonists. The extras do absolutely nothing useful while the protagonists, established early in the picture, do all the work. There's no dimension between the two types of characters.

Furthermore, it initially appears that Darabont is completely in control of the material. When the mist covers the grocery store, the mystery of what's lurking outside will incite fear in his audience and will send a chill down your spine. The drama is executed in completely believable detail as well. Although clichéd, the characters are credible creations who take sides, get on each other's nerves, try their best and make mistakes. Darabont perceptibly aspired for this to be an extremely smart horror movie, one that isn't entirely B-Grade when one sits back and chortles as victims are picked off singularly. The brilliance dims when the monsters appear. The CGI is decent at best, but hardly a visceral or convincing experience nor are they anything to brag about. Then Darabont's crime is damaging the credibility. As the loading bay doors close, the tentacles that crawl through are obviously abundantly strong: too strong, in fact, for the metal door. In effect we realise that the creatures can break into the store at any time, and their hesitance is only on the part of the screenwriting.

Unfortunately Darabont appears incapable of orchestrating the mayhem in the horror scenes as the creatures attack. Everything just happens in one big mess. While realistic in the sense that plenty of things would occur during an attack, it's the unrealistic time management on the part of the editor that destroys the effect. For example we see someone set on fire. He starts burning, then we cut away to different situations for a few minutes before returning to the flaming man as if only a few seconds later.

The Mist is virtually devoid of a soundtrack until the conclusion nears. This effective approach allows the ambient noises to play a primary role in setting the atmosphere. The roar of the creatures provokes intense fear, and by the end even a sudden noise is petrifying. Darabont is also capable of manufacturing a hook that keeps one immersed in the film until its conclusion. Despite dodgy editing, the mayhem and horror is wholly engaging. Of course the characters act like idiots at times, but again it comes back to the natural consequences of human nature during a perilous situation.

The film is almost completely redeemed by its ending. This ending left me absolutely speechless. It's a courageous, bold and un-Hollywood move to create an ending of this kind. It's powerful, hard-hitting and absolutely amazing. The ambiguous religious symbolism is played with throughout the running time, and the possible relevance to religion is left open for interpretation. For a horror movie, Darabont must get credit for this audacious conclusion.

The film is also well performed by a mostly ensemble cast. Thomas Jane will forever, through my eyes, be seen as The Punisher. However, he offers arguably his greatest performance here. At first calm and friendly as well as being a family man, we watch as his morals and attitude descends and eventually creates a different person. The final scene in particular is emotionally-straining.
Marcia Gay Harden offers a convincing performance as a religious nut, obsessed with proving that the mist is the will of God. Her character grows highly irritating, which is predominantly the point so Harden did her job correctly.
Laurie Holden believably plays alongside Thomas Jane in a character that is, surprisingly, not very clichéd. There is no predictable love story at all.
I must give a brief mention to William Sadler, who I remember for his performance in Die Hard 2. Here, Sadler is a clichéd bumpkin who displays a deep side as well.
Toby Jones is also among the finest members of the cast whose character is appealing and fascinating.

Bloodcurdling and confronting in the correct degree, Frank Darabont's The Mist is an apocalyptic visualisation of humanity's devolution as doom descends in the form of a thick cloud of mist. His penetrating screenplay fascinatingly conveys a hard-hitting, horrific morality play about the clashing of archetypes in the most extraordinary of circumstances. The creature designs are sublime although the special effects are barely passable.
All in all, The Mist has the right mixture of intrigue and horror to create a spellbinding, albeit flawed horror movie.

Cal's favourite highlight: the old lady with one heck of a badass attitude who uses weapons in the form of cans of peas and flames!

7.3/10

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horrible horror

Posted : 4 months ago on 8 June 2008 03:05 (A review of The Mist)

Based on a Stephen King novella, what else can a viewer expect but gore and monsters? Oh yes, stupid dialog and stupid people. Honestly, I've yet to see a horror picture that is worth watching.

Marcia Gay Harden's character's mouth should have been taped with super strong tape; that religious lady was so annoying! (Harden was excellent in this performance, as I think that was the point with her character.)
There are some good performances in this film.
There were also some great lines in there, including some by Harden's character when she's praying in the bathroom, and other true comments about people's belief in humanity.
Special effects were quite decent and well done.

I only watched until the end to find out if anyone got out alive... otherwise I'd have stopped. So the story is interesting, but when it does become obvious what happened, it just feels stupid and a waste of time.
It's a horrible horror picture that is way too long.


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Help yourself: watch something else

Posted : 5 months, 3 weeks ago on 24 April 2008 11:11 (A review of The Mist)

I didn't read the book, so I will only focus on what I saw on the screen.

I often wonder why is it so necessary for scary movies or thrillers for the characters (most of the times nearly ALL of them)to be completely stupid for the script to go on. That talks about the incompetence of the screenplay writer (at least).

This movie was one of the finest examples of it. Every single character is more retarded than the one before. The only one that seemed a logical human being was the child.

The movie seems to depend on this for the disasters to happen. When you create a stupid movie, yes, you can only rely on stupid characters to do stupid stuff that leads them into disaster.

The sad thing is that if it was well thought, disasters can happen without EVERYBODY being imbecile.

The end just ties everything with a bow, proving once again my point.

And I saw it because someone recommended it highly!!!

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Another Stephen King masterpiece

Posted : 6 months, 3 weeks ago on 26 March 2008 12:14 (A review of The Mist)

We all know Stephen King is the undisputed master when it comes to horror novels, but not all his works have translated well to the big screen. But I'm glad to say this one, based on a novella (mini-novel) of his, is a beauty. When I read it a few years back in college, I remember thinking 'man, this would make an awesome movie!' so I was excited when I found out that not only was it coming out, but that Frank Darabont was at the helm. The critics came, and many were harsh towards it. I suppose they just didnt except such a King-style ending. lol

All the things that make King special are in this film; the slow build-up of suspense, the complete unexplained mystery, a raving lunatic, terrifying monsters, and finally, the end.

And what an ending. Speechless. wow

THAT alone is worth the price of admission (or at least a rental). The ending. Predictable if you know King (as Voxy points out in her review), but shocking nonetheless.

Well, that, and the justice dealt to the crazy bible thumper. It's been a while that I stood up and yelled 'YES MUTHAFUCKAA!' at my TV. :)

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The Mist review

Posted : 6 months, 3 weeks ago on 25 March 2008 08:35 (A review of The Mist)

Decent movie. It's definitely enough to keep going until the end, wanting to know if anyone gets out alive... but if you know Stephen King at all, you can see that ending coming a mile away. I can say with all honesty that i never, ever want to be stuck in a room with a bible thumper for more than five minutes. I became increasingly annoyed that no one shut that woman up!

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