The Mist – Review

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Director

Frank Darabont

Cast

Thomas Jane David Drayton
Marcia Gay Harden Mrs. Carmody
Laurie Holden Amanda Dumfries
Andre Braugher Brent Norton
Toby Jones Ollie
William Sadler Jim Grondin
Nathan Gamble Billy Drayton

Rating: R
Running Time: 127 Minutes

Imagine yourself caught up in a wild array of people that are all stationed in one location. Not a location such as a town, huge arena, or even a city park. No, put yourself into a local grocery store with about thirty residents from your city. Only pick about five that you know or are acquainted with. You can’t step outside; hell, you can’t even see outside. The only thing you know is that you are trapped. Without your family. Without weapons. Without knowledge of what is going on outside the four walls around you.

David Drayton is an artist living in a small New England town with his wife and son Billy. A sudden storm comes up one night and almost destroys the entire lakeside community in which he lives taking down trees and cutting all electricity. David decides to head into town for supplies and even takes along Billy and his snobby next door neighbor Brent Norton. Norton is a big shot attorney and always feels as if people are out to get him, but today seems to be the one day he and David are finally getting along.

Upon arriving at the grocery store, they notice almost everyone in town had the same idea and that the power is out there too. They commence with their shopping as normal until a couple police cars and a fire truck go screaming by. David also noticed a few trucks full of soldiers on their way to the store. Then it happened. A local man came running into the store complete with a bloody nose and yelling.

“There’s something in the mist!”

It is then that the doors are locked tight and a strange mist comes rolling in very quickly and very heavily. A few make a break for their cars, but the mist consumes them and all that can be heard are their screams. Those still in the grocery store clamor inside and peer outside with unknowing stares. What is out there? What could have possibly happened to make those people scream as they did? And will the walls and plate glass windows be able to keep whatever it is out?

The Mist can be chalked right up as another success for the team of Frank Darabont and Stephen King. It may not have the same feel as The Shawshank Redemption or The Green Mile, but they aren’t the same type of stories either. Here is a film that Dreamcatcher should have been. It delivers tension, suspense, horror, betrayal, loyalty, and every other imaginable emotion that someone could feel in a little over two hours. While some may say that the film drags a bit in the middle; I’ll admit it slows down considerably, but you can’t expect non-stop action from a film unless you’re watching something from Michael Bay.

Once again Darabont is blessed with a stellar cast as Thomas Jane is fantastic in the lead role of David Drayton. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors and you will understand why when you see this film. He portrays the role of not only a great leader, but a person that is still just an average Joe. One of the greatest things you get from Jane is the impeccable way he showcases emotion. When you see anguish on his face, you’ll begin to believe he is truly in disbelief and pain.

Marcia Gay Harden may just have played her greatest role yet as the Bible-thumping Mrs. Carmody. Not only will she make you think as she did to almost everyone in the grocery store, but she’ll make you hate her. Her character is designed to piss you off, and she pulls it off flawlessly. Throw in memorable performances from Andre Braugher (Norton) as always and Toby Jones (Ollie) and it becomes a star-studded performance.

I’ve never read King’s short story, but I know how it ended. For those that aren’t aware of it, Darabont changed the ending for the film to give it more closure, and it was done with King’s blessing. When it comes time for the conclusion of the film and you think you know what is coming; you actually have no idea. There is no better way that Darabont could have ended the film then the way he did it and I for one think it is phenomenal. It left me speechless and in complete awe. Just when you think that complete hell has arrived; it’s then you fall ten more levels to the darkest depths.

You’re going to come across those that hate the way this film ended because believe me, it isn’t a happy-go-lucky finale. I’m not spoiling it for you in any way, so don’t worry. But so many people have told me how bad the film is because of the ending. If the ending of a two hour plus film is all you have to complain about, then you got your money’s worth I’d say. Still, the ending is fantastic and goes against the flow of ninety-five percent of all films created today and I applaud Darabont for it. You want a happy and predictable ending? Then shoot your own film or watch any G-rated film ever. For a director going balls out and showing originality mixed with controversy, go see The Mist.

FINAL RATING (ON A SCALE OF 1-5 BUCKETS):