Movie Review: The Mist

Plots stemming from the brain of Stephen King have been adapted into motion pictures more than one hundred times over. The Mist represents only the third instance of author King and director Frank Darabont uniting on a production. Darabont’s previous takes on Stephen King’s storylines were The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile — arguably two of the few great King-inspired features.

With these classics in mind, walking into The Mist without a preconceived anticipation of excellence is difficult. Yet a speed bump exists in that this is Darabont’s first attempt at a Stephen King horror story versus a dramatic one. Even so, The Mist lives up to its heightened expectations, smoothly rolls over the speed bump, and proves that King’s horror can still be intelligently adapted.

The Mist commences with movie poster artist David Drayton (Thomas Jane) painting his latest project. Suddenly, a storm results in a power outage, as trees crash and cause heavy property damage. After observing the damage, David decides to confront his neighbor, Brent Norton (Andre Braugher), about filing an insurance claim.

Once the pair agrees to exchange insurance information, Mr. Norton and Mr. Drayton head into market with David’s son, Billy (Nathan Gamble). Meanwhile, David’s wife, Stephanie (Kelly Collins Lintz), remains at home, as a mysterious mist looms off the mountain side.

Terror soon ensues as a blood-splattered man enters the town supermarket claiming that something in the mist “took” his friend. Furthermore, when a few men watch a young grocery store clerk get sucked into oblivion by the unimaginable, panic and paranoia begin to mount.

Trapped in a grocery store (with a solid glass front), the town’s citizens diverge into three defined groups: those who are convinced the horror in the mist is nothing more than a hoax, those who become biblically inspired by the town cook, Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden), and those who know the only way to escape the mist is to fight whatever roams within its walls.

The Mist’s main pratfall is associated with the animation — and minor at that. While some of the beasts look intimidating, realistic, and even awe-inspiring, others look cheap, goofy, and obviously animated. Otherwise, the lead’s son presents a few discrepancies such as the amount of time he is separated from his father without worry, the constant attention and reassuring he requires, and the lack of sheer fear in spite of the magnitude of the situation.

Article Author: Brandon Valentine

Brandon Valentine is a film critic from Hershey, PA. Aside from possessing the last name “Valentine” and living in “the Sweetest Place on Earth,” Brandon was also born on Valentine’s Day. That’s right, a Valentine born on Valentine’s Day. …

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