The Mist

Horrorphile

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Horrorphile - February 2008

The Mist

February 7th 2008 23:33

Back when I was a voracious Stephen King fan I eagerly bought his second collection of short stories, Skeleton Crew, when it was published in 1985, having thoroughly enjoyed many of the short stories in his first collection Night Shift. The first story was actually a novella, The Mist, and it was a gem, pure unbridled King horror, in the vein of the original The Twilight Zone television series, featuring ghastly giant bloodthirsty creatures from some supernatural Lovecraftian hell.

More than twenty years later The Mist (2007) finally makes it to the big screen, possibly one of the most anticipated King adaptations ever (after The Stand, which eventually got made as a ho-hum TV mini-series). What lifted this adaptation onto the highly anticipated level was that Frank Darabont was directing, the man who, arguably, made the best King adaptation, The Shawshank Redemption.

What has upset many King fans, and divided many viewers and critics is that Darabont, who wrote the screenplay, has changed the novella’s ending, but more on that later.

The nightmare mist rolls into town

David Drayton (Thomas Jane) lives with his wife and son by a lake’s edge in Castle Rock, Maine (King’s preferred fictional setting). He’s a commercial artist and in the opening scene we see him adding finishing touches to a movie poster for what appears to show The Gunslinger from King’s Dark Tower series, while on the wall in front of him is a familiar poster image to John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), who, of course, made The Fog (1981).

A wild storm hits the mainland and the Drayton family seeks shelter. The next morning while surveying the damage they notice a huge bank of mist coming down from the surrounding mountainous hillside where a military science station is posted.

The supermarket crowd the windows ... What IS that stuff?

Later on, after David and his son Billy (Nathan Gamble) give their obnoxious neighbour Brent Norton (Andre Braugher) a ride into town, the three of them are in the local supermarket when a man with a bloodied nose bursts in, terrified. Something in the mist killed his friend. Before anyone can really do anything the opaque mist surrounds the building. And a horrifying reality sets in.

The Mist Thomas Jane, Nathan Gamble and Laura Holden

Thomas Jane as David, Nathan Gamble as Billy and Laura Holden as Amanda

For almost the entire duration of the two-hour movie the action is set within the confines of the warehouse supermarket, apart from when a small group venture out to the nearby chemist for supplies, and later when a small group venture further a field. This claustrophobia heightens the dramatic impact of the narrative, especially when no one can see into the white mist through the huge plate glass walls which line the front of the supermarket.

It can't be real, something's just pulling young Norm (Chris Owen)'s leg

Screenwriter/direc tor Darabont adds an interesting and altogether crucial element to the movie version which is not played out so dramatically in the novella; a heated “discussion” over God, and his fury unleashed upon the unbelievers of the world. A series of diatribes are voiced by the character of Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden), a religious nut (there’s nearly always one somewhere within a King story) who is certain the hellish creatures that are attacking them from deep within the mist are part of God’s master plan to sort out the good from the evil.

The Mist Marcia Gay Harden and William Sadler

Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden) points the finger, with Jim (William Sadler) taking sides

This sub-plot is taken to a natural dramatic climax, with Darabont executing various consequences as a result of this theological sub-text. One of the movie posters even employs a religious icon carefully constructed into the image (check above, can you see it?). And it is the movie’s ending which seals Darabont’s apocalyptic vision.

A dangerous excursion to the nearby chemist proves terrifying

I had trouble with the movie’s first half, feeling it was a little too talky and not enough genuine “horror”. It was feeling like a slick TV movie, with handheld camera to add a sense of urgency and realism. But then after a while things started to kick in, so when the giant scorpion-locust bugs, followed by the prehistoric bird beasts, started attacking, I found myself edging forward in my seat, my hands rubbing together in quiet glee.

The always brilliant Greg Nicotero (KNB EFX) along with CafeFX handled the visual and special make-up effects, which involves a fair amount of CGI, pretty darn impressive stuff, even if the first creature’s giant tentacles weren’t quite as convincing as I hoped (it would’ve been damn tricky had they used animatronic ones, but ultimately more convincing if they'd pulled it off). Darabont mostly uses restraint with the violence and gore, but in key moments he doesn’t shy away, and there are several real doozy moments, (like the victim of one of the scorpion-locusts). What Darabont does capture very well is the sense of utter helplessness of the situation, and the incredulity of the people caught in it.

With young Billy and others in shock David moves into pro-active mode

In the novella the giant spider creatures were the ones that gave me the serious heebie-jeebies, and between Darabont’s direction and Nicotero’s team, they’ve pulled that part off superbly; the stuff of real nightmares! Also of note are the two silhouetted Cthulhu-esque behemoths; one which looks like a massive praying mantis, and the other a six-legged, fog-horned monstrosity near the very end of the movie (a key description in the novella, which apparently Darabont had exercised from the script, until Nicotero and others demanded he put it back, good work guys!)

The Mist Laura Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn and Frances Sternhagen

Amanda, Dan (Jeffrey DeMunn) and Irene (Frances Sternhagen) witness something very big and very scary

Casting and acting is strong; Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Laura Holden as Amanda, Sam Witwer as military officer Wayne, and William Sadler as store engineer Jim. The dialogue is also solid, even when characters are saying or doing something slightly dodgy, it still works. There are a few Hollywood moments, for the sake of narrative license, but on the whole these don’t hinder the movie.

A teaser retro-styled poster

The downbeat ending is decidedly un-Hollywood. Yes, viewers can argue there were alternatives to the actions taken, but in the bigger picture it fits beautifully with the religious theme prevalent through the narrative. Apparently King has said he really likes Darabont’s ending (although this could’ve been jigged to help sell the movie).

What is certainly clear is that The Mist rates as one of the two or three best Stephen King movie adaptations. Curiously Darabont will be including a scratchy black and white version of the movie as an extra on the special edition DVD, in keeping with the whole 60s Twilight Zone feel. Apparently that’s his preferred vision, but the studio wouldn’t let him release a monochromatic movie. I dig the colour version, but a black and white would certainly enhance the atmosphere. It all depends on where your aesthetics and sensibilities lie; the realityTV kids wouldn’t get it, but the Night of the Living Dead adults would.

Here's the very-Hollywoody trailer:

Here's an alternate, better trailer:

And here's director Frank Darabont talking about his preferred black and white version:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

9 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Cibbuano

February 7th 2008 23:59

20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

really - a good review, eh? Man, I loved Skeleton Crew when I was younger, and the Mist is definitely creepy. I was going to watch this just based on nostalgia, but you say it's one of the best King adaptations? Sold.

Comment by JohnDoe

February 8th 2008 00:33

Film & TV on DVD

Wow, had no expectations for this and thought the trailer looked weak..Might have to give it go on your recommendation though...enjoyed the short story as a kid but my memory is foggy on the finer plot points thankfully.

Comment by Bryn

February 8th 2008 02:48

Horrorphile

My boys, I'd avoided most of the trailers and hadn't read any reviews ... I haven't read the novella since I first read it back in the mid-80s (wow, that long ago), but I want to re-read it now. It has it's cheesy moments, but they're few, and more brie than chedder ... The ending is polarising audiences, curious to know what you both think. It's both powerful and contrived and the same time.

Comment by Damo

February 8th 2008 05:04

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

This had better be good.

I have a love hate relationship with Kings movies. I found some disappointing but enjoyed others. Dreamcatcher came across like a film of left over unconnected incidents.

Yet I hope this lives up to the poster.
I like the idea of the unseen danger

Comment by Bryn

February 8th 2008 10:30

Horrorphile

Damo, ooooooo, the pressure is on!!! I think you'll like ... Hey, I'm not wrong often am I ...??

Comment by Damo

February 8th 2008 22:10

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Bryn

Your taste is almost as good mine.

Comment by Bryn

February 10th 2008 06:27

Horrorphile

I'll take that as a compliment then , Damo

Comment by JohnDoe

April 20th 2008 02:14

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Bryn,

Saw this last night and have to say WOW. Ive never been a Darabont fan but the way he handles this is testament to his knowledge of technique. Great ending, loved it!

An essential for King fans and horror fiends alike, my review is on the way.

Comment by Bryn

April 20th 2008 08:19

Horrorphile

JD, so glad you enjoyed, twas greta on the big screen too ... Am keen to own it on DVD in order to see Darabont's preferred monochromatic version.

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