The Mist is an adaptation of a Stephen King novella of the same title, in which a mysterious mist descends on a small town, trapping a supermarket in a grip of fear. The story has strong parallels with John Carpenter’s The Fog, except the mist blankets the town instead of rolling in. This horror story is directed and written by Frank Darabont, who can’t seem to go wrong with Stephen King adaptations. He’s been behind some of the most incredible King adaptations such as The Shawshank Redemeption and The Green Mile. He’s better known for his screenplays, but does justice to The Mist, despite a limited shooting time.
The camera crew from The Shield were used to get through takes quickly and this gives The Mist a hint of reality with camcorder style quick shots. The supermarket is the main domain for the majority of the film, but the characters drive the narrative. The Mist forces the story to concentrate on the victims, instead of the evil that lurks in the mist. Thomas Jane (The Punisher) leads the ensemble and gives a full range performance as the hero, David Drayton. As a movie poster artist and father, he’s pushed to experiences that no man should have to endure. He’s supported by a host of new talent, including Marcia Gay Harden, who delivers a strong role as the narrow-minded Mrs Carmody.
The Mist forces the ordinary townsfolk to look themselves in the mirror and face the unknown. What rises from the mist is likely to keep these people trapped for ages as some of the brave and foolish test the boundaries of the parking lot. Stephen King’s story delves into the human condition and the extremes of survival instinct. Group dynamics create factions amongst the civilians and the outsiders. They seem bent on storming and norming to the point that individuals that aren’t part of the group, become responsible for the downfall. Religious sentiment turns into nightmarish cabin fever as the lines are drawn. The turmoil inside the supermarket is agitated by the dire circumstances and the need for relevance and hope.
King’s story resonates with contemporary society and the control that government provides and relieves civilians of. The new system is established to provide safety, but wreaks havoc instead. The Mist isn’t as poignant as The Green Mile or The Shawshank Redemption, but makes a solid production of a difficult-to-film adaptation. Darabont creates a platform for a desperate human drama, fuelled by the impending threat of doom in this apocalyptic nightmare. The Mist embodies elements from The Fog, The Reaping and Cloverfield with the B-movie horror of Night of the Living Dead.
This is one horror movie that deserves to be watched on DVD rather than at the cinema. While the big screen has its merits, a personal viewing environment is more suitable. The randomness of the situation, the desperation of human nature and the fear of the unknown are more palpable without the distractions of the brainless. These are the moviegoers you’d expect to be zombie extras as a day job, and are the same people who cannot spell cinema etiquette. Some are depraved to the point of no return and it’s difficult to get into the movie with the interruptions of misplaced laughter and 45 minute concentration spans.
If you do happen to find yourself trapped in a cinema with these low-life beings, don’t despair… the horrific ending should shut them up. The Mist is a return to pulpy, tangible horror that makes you afraid of mist and frightened of your own potential for darkness.
The bottom line: Apocalyptic.
