Horror based on the novella by Stephen King. After a number of people in a small town in Maine are killed by supernatural creatures lurking in a thick fog, a small group of survivors led by artist David Drayton (Thomas Jane) take shelter in a local supermarket. The frightened survivors attempt to discover the origins of the deadly mist, with rumours pointing toward an experiment conducted at a nearby military base. As the world around them slowly descends into a literal hell-on-earth, one of the survivors calls for Old Testament-style sacrifices in order to pacify the malevolent forces.
Starring: William Sadler, Chris Owen, Andre Braugher, Nathan Gamble, Toby Jones
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Runtime: 126 minutes
Studio: Genius Products (TVN)
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Following the brilliant adaptations of Stephen King’s work – The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Green Mile (1999) – Frank Darabont delivered The Mist in 2007. The story begins with David Drayton (Thomas Jane) waking to find a thunderstorm has led to damage to the house including his art studio. David leaves his wife Stephanie (Kelly Lintz) at home but takes their son Billy (Nathan Gamble) into town along with a neighbor Brent (Andre Braugher). Heading for the grocery store strange things begin to happen. Power in the town is mostly gone and a crowd is packed into the store, stocking up on supplies, when Dan Miller (Jeffrey DeMunn) comes racing towards them from outside. He has a bloody nose and calls on the crowds to seal the exit. A thick mist is approaching and Dan insists there is something inside it. The locals find themselves trapped in the store and those that dare to go outside soon find it’s far from safe.
A well-crafted film, The Mist demonstrates King’s skill when it comes to characters. At the outset we have David and his neighbor Brent who have been at loggerheads with lawsuits and court visits. With Brent’s car having been destroyed in the storm, David offers him a lift into the town and thrown together in the siege situation, the two men initially develop an understanding. Elsewhere in the store is Mrs Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden), fanatically religious, and very much the enemy within the store. When unknown creatures attack and kill the locals that wander into the mist, Mrs Carmody begins preaching that this is God’s work, the coming of Armageddon and that only in calming his fury can they hope to survive. Initially, Mrs Carmody stands alone in her preaching but as the siege lengthens and brings with it physical and mental strain, many of the locals find their faith and look to Mrs Carmody for guidance. It’s not enough having enemies outside, two factions emerge within the store and violence is not far away.
The Mist is a tense horror film, the biggest chills being less about the monsters outside the store, and more about those that develop within. Were it not for the fascinating group of characters thrown together, this might just be a pretty average horror film, but thanks to King’s mind and Darabont’s direction, it finishes up as a very good one.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Mist | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
