Movies •Books •Music •Food •Tv Shows •Technology •Politics •Video Games •Parenting •Fashion •Green Living •more >

Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » The Mist » User review

The Mist

A horror movie.

Edit Topic

< read all 13 reviews

There's a thin line between people and monsters.

Oct 12, 2011

by Madpenguin
posted in Movie Hype

Rating:

After a storm sends a tree crashing through the home of David Drayton (Thomas Jane). He then takes a trip to town with his son and next door neighbor. Suddenly, a man rushes into the supermarket with his face bloody and claiming "something is in the mist". All of the shoppers and workers soon find themselves barricaded in the place to escape whatever is in the mist. The mist appears to be concealing something very sinister and murderous. -summary

It would be an understatement, if I mentioned that this film delivered on a level of terror I wasn't expecting. The film begins as just another monster themed movie, but eventually creeps up and surprises you. If there was ever a film that shouldn't be judged on its first five minutes it would be The Mist. Later on, the film changes pace and actually takes a turn far darker than the usual man vs. the unseen monster, because it's so close to home in its realism.

I enjoyed the writing and direction of the film. The Mist attempted and succeeded to be a character driven film. The setting and the situation couldn't be better. Director Frank Darabont decided to exploit human behavior, by stuffing a mass of people together with an unseen threat literally outside. Needless to say, that speculation and insecurities will be through the roof. Darabont captures and magnificently displays almost all human emotions to create a thought provoking experience. Emotions such as confusion, self-preservation, fear, and mans reliance of the best possible solution, which in this case happens to be religion. These basic human traits plays heavily into the character development, which is very strong here.

One of the biggest strengths for me has to be the acting. I'm mostly moved by characters that trigger some type of emotion in me. Whether it's compassion or a deep dislike. Marcia Gay Harden as Mrs. Carmody delivered an outstanding and very believable performance. Her character as the sadistic religious zealot even seemed too believable at times, and the funny thing is, I actually know people like this. I even recently had a fallout with a long time friend that developed this same complex.

I really did like the overall use of her character, and everything that comes with it. Normally, when people start to preach and cram their beliefs into some folks ears. It's almost a natural reaction to want to hurt them, which was definitely the case here, as we seen individuals actually behave violently towards her. I can relate to this for many reasons, but that's a whole different topic that will never be discussed.

I love the writing to this film. One thing I noticed immediately is that the film doesn't rely on those cliche scares, such as the shadowy figure running in the background, or someone creeping up from behind for the flimsiest of reasons. The sudden shocks do happen out of nowhere, but I found them to be done with some actual creativity. In all honesty, when concerning the creatures that do appear. I didn't find them to be the least bit scary, but they were creepy and used very effectively. The monsters are very well designed. However, I couldn't help notice that they would probably fit better in a sci-fi action video game like Contra or something. There were some pretty good gory moments, with nice special effects that mainly involved some nice flesh ripping. The gore could have been more over the top. Still, I was satisfied with this.

I noticed that the film catches a lot of heat for its ending, as well as being too serious. Well I loved the ending. Why? Because it's a horror movie and it's suppose to end horrible. I take my hat off to anyone who chooses to over step bounds and go too far. I don't want happy endings in my horror, nor do I want to laugh in my horror either. Even though there is a small amount of dark comedies I enjoy. I can seriously live without them.

Overall, I think the film is worth watching. Just be warned, the ending really is a shock, and the film touches on religious material, as well as mannerisms that can be quite disturbing and annoying.The Mist has a 126 minute run time, and I didn't even notice two hours of my life passed me by. That's what a good movie would do.

Pros:
-Great story & characters, Marcia Gay Harden is the show stealer, nice ending

Cons:
-Ending can kill it for some, has a few annoying moments

What did you think of this review?

Helpful

Thought-Provoking

Fun to Read

Well-Organized

Post a Comment

Butterfly1961 February 05, 2012

I have the worse time remembering titles of movies I have seen; I think this should have been one I saw, but not quite sure! I will have to see this one; you did a great write up, and even if I did see it before, I won't mind seeing it again LOL - thanks for a great review.

Madpenguin February 06, 2012

I saw this more than once, and I think you'll dig it. Many folks didn't like the ending but I did.

show text editor

reply to this comment

Follow this review

FM_ALEX October 15, 2011

Oh man I loved this one, excellent review.

Madpenguin October 26, 2011

Thanks man. Had a feeling you dug this.

show text editor

reply to this comment

Follow this review

woopak_the_thrill October 12, 2011

so much fun reading this review again. We see eye to eye with this one....

Madpenguin October 12, 2011

I'll get to your review on this one again soon.

show text editor

reply to this comment

Follow this review

More The Mist reviews

review by ryguy4738. October 25, 2011

posted in Movie Hype

Effective, creepy, and intelligent; Darabont's "The Mist" is a delightfully scary thrill-ride.

*** out of **** "The Mist" is a deceptive horror film; based on a Stephen King novella, and directed by Frank Darabont, who has in the past helmed a few of the most famous and widely-known adaptations of King's work. He is a talented, understanding filmmaker; and I admire both his style and intentions, all of which were good for this very film. He wanted to entertain, but at the same time, he wanted to make an adaptation that forced the audience to think a little, and with … more

Comments (1) Compliments (24)

review by Sean_Rhodes. January 15, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

What Lurks in The Mist

There's a Stephen King novel called "Misery" in which an author, Paul Sheldon is held hostage by his "number one fan." In reality where life is often not so much like a Stephen King novel, King himself may have a number one fan when it comes to adaptations. His friend Frank Darabont. Darabont wrote and directed The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. When it came to King, these were both prison dramas. The Mist is the first time Darabont … more

Comments (1) Compliments (39)

Quick Tip by gyork27205. July 06, 2010

posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

A Quick Tip by gyork27205

To me this book is better than the movie. I couldn't put it down. It was scary, but yet not too gory.

Comment Compliments (3)

review by woopak_the_thrill. March 03, 2009

posted in Movie Hype

Effective Portrayal of Pure Human Terror and Hopelessness

THE MIST is directed by Frank Darabont; after his somewhat misfire "The Majestic", he is poised to redeem himself with an adaptation of one of Stephen King's novellas. Darabont wrote the screenplay and directed this horror film that left a smile on my face after watching it in theaters. This film is a welcome return to contemporary horror filmmaking after an overload of tiresome torture flicks and Asian long-haired ghosts. After an electrical storm hits a small … more

Comments (9) Compliments (51)

Quick Tip by rickfazollo. July 15, 2010

posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

A Quick Tip by rickfazollo

I was in awe, what an end! Remember, there is hope even when we cannot see. I like this novel.

Comment Compliments (1)

Quick Tip by donna_r. July 13, 2010

posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

A Quick Tip by donna_r

Here is another Stephen King novel that, if you're a fan, you won't want to miss.

Comment Compliments (1)

Quick Tip by twit10. July 13, 2010

posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

A Quick Tip by twit10

This was my least favorite of his books. Not bad just not for me.

Comment Compliments (1)

Quick Tip by cideon. July 02, 2010

posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

A Quick Tip by cideon

Was surprised at the different feel from the film, very entertaining.

Comment Compliments (2)

Quick Tip by Swadhi. July 02, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

A Quick Tip by Swadhi

The ending was quite unexpectedly awesome.

Comment Compliments (1)

review by nateandersen. December 06, 2009

posted in Movie Hype

Hell is other people ... a surprisingly effective and dark old school horror thriller

Sartre, perhaps, said it best: "hell is other people," i.e. we do a good enough job making life difficult for each other here on Earth, so who needs demons? Following a violent storm that wrecks his studio, illustrator David Drayton takes his son Billy into town for supplies. Once there, however, an unnatural mist traps them in the supermarket. The situation goes from inconvenient to horrific when they discover there are monsters in the mist; but mistrust and paranoia lead … more

Comment Compliments (21)

see all The Mist reviews (13)

About the reviewer

Madpenguin
Ranked #2

Serious gamer and hardcore comic reader. Currently in my Nintendo Wii U: Currently … more

Consider the Source

Use Trust Points to see how much you can rely on this review.

Iron Man 2

Resident Evil: Degenerati …

Dead Space: Downfall

Alien 3

rate more to improve this

Recent reviews by Madpenguin

And we have the Villain in Black.
a review of MC Ren: Kizz My Black Azz

The Birth of Esco... Something that nearly killed …
a review of Nas - It Was Written

A trigga gots no heart as I go out like a str8 up …
a review of Menace II Society: The Original Motion ...

see more reviews

About this movie

Wiki

Writer-director Frank Darabont, who showcased the softer side of Stephen King in his film adaptations ofThe Shawshank RedemptionandThe Green Mile, turns to darker material forThe Mist, his latest King adaptation about a group of ordinary townspeople trapped in a supermarket by a mysterious fogbank. Thomas Jane is top-billed as a Maine illustrator who attempts to calm the frightened shoppers, but his job is cut out for him from the get-go, first by the discovery of malevolent creatures lurking in the mist, and then by the mad mutterings of Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden), a local eccentric who calls for Old Testament-style sacrifices to appease the supernatural forces. Darabont delivers monster movie thrills and understated social commentary with equal skill, and he's well supported by his cast (which includes Andre Braugher, Toby Jones, William Sadler and Jeffrey DeMunn) and the vivid special effects by KNB EFX, which effectively mix CGI with models and stop-motion animation (the terrific monsters were designed by legendary comic book artist Bernie Wrightson). And for those curious about how the novella's downbeat ending has translated to film, suffice it to say that Darabont's conclusion is at once different and more unsettling than King's.--Paul Gaita

view wiki