Over the years, King’s horror adaptations have been a hit, i.e. Misery, Dolores Claiborne, Riding the Bullet, Pet Sematary, The Shining, Secret Window, Cujo, 1408, or miss, i.e. Dreamcatcher, Graveyard Shift, The Mangler, The Dark Half, Needful Things. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve paid to see or rent them all. Bad horror films are one of my vices.
The Mist begins with the traditional King lore. The story takes place in a small town with seemingly good people that have mysterious dark hearts. Thomas Jane plays David Drayton, a big city movie poster artist living the small town life with his wife and son. A ferocious storm rolls into their midst and they hide in the basement until it subsides. When it clears, they emerge to witness the path of destruction. Drayton’s wife looks out over the lake and comments on the strange mist moving towards them.
Drayton takes his son to the local market where most of the town has congregated buying up supplies. People watch from the windows as military vehicles cruise by at a fast clip. They talk about rumors that the mountain base is doing Frankensteinian experiments…
Within a few moments, we’re introduced to the locals. Ms. Carmody, played brilliantly by Marcia Gay Harden, preaches her Biblical neuroses as the ever beautiful Laurie Holden graces the screen as the new girl in town. As the townsfolk look out at the screaming fire trucks whizzing by, an old man runs through the parking lot ranting and raving that something got his friend in the Mist as blood drips from his nose and mouth. He enters the store just as the tornado sirens sound off and everyone stares at the mist as it rolls in.
The Mist is a transfixing white-knuckle thrill ride from beginning to end. Darabont, no stranger to King’s works with his adaptations of The Shawshank Redemption & The Green Mile, has masterfully created one hell of genre film that should satisfy every horror audience while providing a little bit more; great performances.
The vagueness of the mist provides excellent tension within the contained environment. With the exceptional likes of Andre Braugher, Harden, Jane, Holden, William Sadler & the stunning Alexa Davalos, the characters within this adaptation breathe life into the tired monsters among us genre. The audience is able to suspend disbelief for two hours and feel something towards all of the people holed up. Yes, we’re terrified of what’s beyond the doors in the mist, but our fear rises inside as Ms. Carmody preaches and turns the locals into her congregation of devout followers that will do whatever she asks them to. By the third act, there are no more safe places to hide.
Looking back at Darabont’s work over the years from writing The Blob for friend Chuck Russell to his writing on The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles to his screenplay for Nightmare on Elm Street 3 & 1994’s Frankenstein to executive producing Collateral, one would have to say that Frank Darabont is a rare director that can cross genres with great success. It’s great to see him back in the director’s chair.
This film delivers on every level. With minimal special effects, Darabont creates a great atmosphere of pending dread. Audiences may not be happy with the ending, which I absolutely loved. The Mist is not to be missed.
The DVD has many features including three cool webisodes with director Frank Darabont and commentary with him as well, Deleted scenes, Trailer Gallery, and more; and that’s just on the first disc. The second disc includes The Mist in Black & White, which gives it the throwback monster film feeling of the 1950’s, and a bunch of behind the scenes documentaries on the whole making of the film.
– Jack Reher
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
