Stephen King's The Mist by Frank Darabont [2007]

Title: The Mist
Director: Frank Darabont
Starring: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2007
Source: Generation X Video

This is competing with 30 Days of Night as my favourite threater release this year.

I can't possibly be the only movie nerd demanding more monster movies, right? Come on studios- bring them at us, full force. Clearly, The Mist is a prime example just how much they work, and to remind the general public just how much we've been missing out on them lately.

Ladies and gents, we have a winner. There wasn't any disappointment at all, I left the threater completely stoked on what I just saw. The ending is what I'd imagine a kick to the nuts to feel like. The build-up during the full 2 hours was on point and kept you glued to the big screen [which is terrible after downing a large Diet Pepsi and needing to pee like a race horse].

The scare factor is not the monsters outside the shop [as cool as they are], but rather the human monsters on the inside. It's believable to see how as the fear factor increases people both ban together in groups and want to tear each other apart, everyone looking to place the blame on his fellow man. An on-going one-up of sorts. Perfect.

The location of the super market, the cast, extras, dialogue, all of it was just awesome. If this release doesn't reach box office gold, then I'll be truly disappointed in the movie going public. Frank Darabont did a fabulous job bringing the short to it's full potential.

I like how as time goes on people become more and more afraid of the mist, even without knowing for sure if anything is really out there. As the people in the shop break out into their seperate groups, that is when the story builds and the level of horror escalates.

The leader of the overly religious group, Mrs Carmody [Marcia Gay Harden] is my favourite character. She plays up the role to the max with her biblical rantings and warnings of god's wrath. Not only does she believe there is monsters on the outside, she is downright convinced they are sent to get blood to please an angry god. She is truly ten fold scarier than any monster on the outside. Kudos to Harden for playing this character to the max and making it all come off as 100% legit.


Highly recommended.

j.