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The Mist (2007)

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655 comments in total

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328 out of 455 people found the following comment useful :-
"The Mist" is worth watching!, 22 November 2007

Author: Groovespeed from Los Angeles, CA

I've been a member of IMDb for many years now and rarely do I take the time to comment on a film. In addition, I watch, on average, about 10-15 films a month, split among all genres including horror. Lately though, I've been very disenfranchised with most horror films especially with the proliferation of shock/gore/splatter/torture-porn films such as Hostel 2, The latest Saw film, Captivity, etc. Enter "The Mist" and I leave the theater saying to myself "this is why I go see movies".

Frank Darabont should be the only one adapting Steven King novels and short stories...period. He brings a human balance that's missing in most horror films these days. You can have the most unbelievable, and maybe even the most ludicrous, situations and events, but if you make the characters believable and further peel the layers to expose fear, prejudices and vulnerability then you have the foundations towards making an effective film. I was absolutely gripped during the entire film, and that all-too-rare-these-days sense of dread permeates through almost every scene and left me emotionally exhausted at the end. And speaking of the ending, isn't that what almost everyone is talking about? I'm not going to give anything away, but in my opinion, I loved it. I can see why it can split into camps of "loved it"/"didn't like it" but for me it was a great conclusion to the entire storyline of the human condition. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

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196 out of 295 people found the following comment useful :-
A Spectacular Scarefest, 27 November 2007

Author: Jonny_Numb from Hellfudge, Pennsylvania

While the cast and crew of "The Mist" will herald the Weinstein Brothers at press junkets and the like, the producing duo has made 2007's most refreshingly original horror films ("Grindhouse," "Halloween") sacrificial lambs to fright-unfriendly weekends (there's a good article on this at Dread Central.com). And while "The Mist" certainly commands a 30-foot screen, maybe its best possible fate lies on DVD, where viewers with surround sound and a widescreen TV can live the horrific, harrowing experience without the distraction of an audience too dumb to decipher their ticket stubs.

"What's wrong with Stephen King?!" one member asked at the climax of "The Mist," certain he had made an alternately incisive and hilarious comment. To which I thought, "Had you actually read the novella, clod, you'd know that King ended on an (almost) upbeat note." With home entertainment fast becoming the industry standard, I guess the expectation of a tactful audience is beyond reason anymore.

Despite the running commentary, I was able to see the treasure most of the room missed out on. As a novella, "The Mist" is—like most of King's work—pulpy, scary, and compelling. The film, written and directed by Frank Darabont, is a stunning adaptation that manages to capture the slow burn of dread and desperation that permeates the novella. And while there is an uncanny titular similarity to John Carpenter's "The Fog," this is an altogether different beast.

The setup is simple: after a brutal storm whips through a small Maine community, movie poster artist David Drayton (Thomas Jane—"Dreamcatcher") and his son, Bill (Nathan Gamble) head into town for supplies, accompanied by Norton (Andre Braugher), their next-door neighbor. Once they arrive at a small shopping plaza, a shear mist encroaches upon them, trapping a large number of people inside a grocery store. The utter randomness of this scenario is enough to make one's skin crawl, but it turns out there are prehistoric-looking monsters waiting in the mist. And the inhabitants of the store become increasingly desperate for survival.

(At this juncture, I will apologize in advance for the upcoming comparisons to "Night of the Living Dead," due to the sheer quantity of mentions.)

What follows has a lot of thematic parallels to George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead," a B movie whose guerrilla fearlessness and intelligence pushed it into legitimacy and legend. "The Mist" is as much about things-that-go-bump-against-the-plate-glass as the way in which trapped humans respond to such a fantastic situation. Like "Night," the breakdown of social order and martial law is addressed; the role of the military comes into play; religious fundamentalism is personified by Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden), a fire-and-brimstone type who becomes a macabre, sacrifice-minded beacon to the store's desperate. In an era where most of today's horror crowd expects "Saw XIV" every time they walk into a theater, Darabont's script is built on a foundation of logic and authentic human action (even when characters do things we know are unwise, their rationale is convincingly fleshed-out) as opposed to manipulative twists and anticlimaxes. The ending is at once ballsy, depressing, and right. Like "Night," "The Mist" is less about otherworldly monsters than mankind's uncanny ability to BE the monster.

That being said, "The Mist" works as well as a traditional horror film, with several genuinely scary sequences involving mutant hybrids of pterodactyls, houseflies, and spiders, with several Cthulhu-esquire unmentionables to complement their Lovecraftian backstory. The CG is well-utilized and the sharp editing keeps it from being overdone. Darabont transforms the creatures—which are essentially '50s B-movie fodder—into absolutely convincing visions of hell. This film bucks current horror trends by actually scaring the audience instead of just repulsing them.

"The Mist" is one of the year's best.

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178 out of 283 people found the following comment useful :-
You're all right Big Bill…The Mist, 23 November 2007

Author: babubhaut from buffalo, ny, usa

I always say to people that Frank Darabont is the only man who can truly make a great Stephen King adaptation. I'm not so sure I have the credentials to state that as fact, but I do anyways. I love The Shawshank Redemption, but never read Rita Hayworth… and I read The Green Mile, but still have yet to watch the film. So, I can't quite compare his work with that of the author, however, that did little to temper my anticipation for his first based on a supernatural story, with The Mist. Early buzz was that he completed the hat trick; even with some unavoidable clichés inherent to the genre, he was able to create something unique and terrifying. I have to say that I agree whole-heartedly. The tale that he has spun and the performances that he has wrenched from his actors are nothing short of spectacular. With the amount of tension built up, you hardly have time to notice the somewhat mediocre effects work and token moments of horror tradition. Whereas someone less capable would have tried to tell the tale of humanity versus the otherworldly beasts outside their grocery store cage, Darabont tells it how it really is—fear of the unknown turning man against man. There is no scarier monster than the one hidden inside us all.

We aren't given very much background at all. Thrown into the plot by a huge storm knocking power out and leaving destruction in its wake, we don't have much time before we are taken to the grocery store that becomes our setting for almost the entire duration. These are not two-dimensional characters, though, and through their conversations with each other, we glean a lot about who they are. It helps that this is a small town where everyone knows everyone, and they all make sure each other knows it. You have to love the old retired teacher calling you an underachiever right before you go out to risk your life against creatures straight from another dimension. The occupations of everyone plays into the plot course too, from a movie poster artist trying to tell the group that he saw tentacles attempting to take them out into the mist, to a lawyer doing his best to see the practicality of the situation and necessity of evidence before being convinced. They all have one thing in common, though, and that is the need for protection, the need for a herd to follow. As Armageddon plays out on the other side of the glass windows, fear takes hold, pitting faith against rationality, morality opposite ceremonial sacrifice.

Darabont has his cinematographer stay in very close throughout the movie. With extremely tight compositions, we are able to see the emotions and the chaos reflected by each actor's eyes. Everyone handles the pressure differently and the filmmakers don't cop-out from showing us each. The feeling leads to some claustrophobic moments, but also some wonderful action pieces, showing us the brutality and violence up close with no question or ambiguity to what happened. Towards the end, we are given a witch-hunt sequence between the zealots and the pragmatists. It is just a breathtaking piece of cinematic splendor, beautifully orchestrated despite its cruel subject matter and unabashed frankness. If you want to see grotesque, remorseless creatures, just take a glimpse at your neighbor. I'm sure it is there just below the surface, waiting for an opportunity to come up for air and latch onto the coattails of the nearest person crazy enough to think they know the answers and that they alone can lead the rest to salvation.

The acting is simply phenomenal. An ensemble of so many recognizable faces has been compiled and no one misses a step. Thomas Jane is devastating as the father of a young boy doing his best to keep everyone calm while taking stock of the situation in an attempt to find a way out; Toby Jones gives a nice turn as the slightly nerdy store assistant manager who is constantly walked on until his true worth is shown; and Andre Braugher is effective as the foil to Jane, their rocky relationship evolving and devolving as each minute goes by. While everyone is fantastic, it is Marica Gay Harden that becomes the real tour de force. I have never been a huge fan of hers; she is solid for sure, but usually comes off as annoying to me. Here, though, she is the most frightening character on screen. Channeling God's wishes through her demented skull leads to the separation into two factions of the survivors. If this wasn't a genre flick I'd say she had a pretty decent shot at getting her second supporting actress Oscar.

Every note is played to perfection. Overcoming any crutches that the nature of horror/thrillers bring with them, Darabont has crafted an emotionally draining piece of cinema that leaves the audience gasping for air as though they have been kicked in the stomach. While the fights with the bug-like creatures are effective, they only play out as the first step to the battles within soon to come. I credit all involved for keeping the tone where it needed to be in order for success. This is an R-rated tale and it pulls no punches to that effect. Whereas most films of this ilk would take a simple route out of the carnage, we are allowed to watch all play out to its unavoidable end. Maybe the finale is obvious, but evenso, it is stripped down to the basic core of emotions. I knew it was coming yet it was still devastating to experience. Fear makes us all do that which we think we could never do and, if anything, The Mist is a cautionary tale to help us remember that one crucial and unbending fact of life.

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231 out of 393 people found the following comment useful :-
A Fantastic, Truly Scary Ride!, 9 November 2007

Author: vdepasqual1 from Austin, TX

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I've been a Stephen King reader since I was about 8. I've read almost everything the man has written. I'm also a HUGE Frank Darabont fan after what he did with SHAWSHANK and GREEN MILE.

It takes a lot to scare me, but this movie really creeped me out. From the moment The Mist rolls in over the lake toward the small town, I was hooked. Thomas Jane is fantastic in this. In fact, the entire cast knocks this one out of the park because of how realistically they play each moment. Never once did I feel like I was watching acting on the screen. Darabont sets a mood of realism with the hand held shots inside the grocery store and the organic suspense that creates.

Darabont has added some elements not found in the King story, but each one of them is spot on. Especially the end. It will leave you sitting in your seat, awe struck.

I can't recommend this film more. The FX are outstanding by Greg Nicotero and Cafe FX. The creatures are great, complex and frightening. The Mist itself becomes a character.

The feeling of dread I got each time a character went into The Mist is such a tribute to how wonderful and masterful this film is.

And finally, Marcia Gay Harden and Toby Jones. Harden's character is so despicable I really began to hate her as the movie went on. But the realism of what unfolds with her, and the group of people stuck in the store, is so fantastic. And Toby Jones as Ollie was my second favorite behind Jane's character. Jones looks like he would be the quiet type, but he quickly becomes the audience favorite.

See this movie ASAP. And a special thanks again to Frank Darabont, Greg Nicotero, AICN and the Alamo Drafthouse for bringing this awesome film to Austin for us to see FIRST!!!!!

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135 out of 209 people found the following comment useful :-
First General Public Screening in Austin with Frank Darabont, 9 November 2007

Author: typicaladam from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I had the good fortune of catching this 2 weeks before the national release. Last night (Nov. 8th) at the Alamo Draft House in Austin, TX Frank came out and gave us a real treat.

The film is a real horror movie. When I say that, I mean that it hits on all cylinders that a monster movie should. The dialog can be choppy at times, there is humor but it isn't campy, the monsters are genuinely frightening and sometimes you question the characters decisions. Add all of those elements as well as a very talented VisualFX crew and you get an homage to movies that just don't get made anymore. I felt as though I was watching The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits for the first time.

People familiar with the story know that there isn't really an 'ending'. Well, I won't ruin it for you but Frank gives you an ending that'll stick in your head well after you leave.

If you like movies that serve their purpose you'll enjoy this movie, even if you aren't a horror fan. If you're a horror fan then you'll eat this up and beg for more.

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143 out of 241 people found the following comment useful :-
Classic Horror in a Post Modern age, 25 November 2007

Author: hoobits from United States

Let me take a breath... Never have I had such a visceral physical reaction to a film... ever. Not even with Elem Klimov's Come and See. In the last fifteen minutes I was nearly physically paralyzed, and then started shaking, realizing how numb my body was... and I am dead serious. Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's novella goes heads above a 50s/60s monster movie homage. This is grade "A" chilling, terrifying, unsettling and utterly hopeless cinema in line with the most cynical and depressing classics from the 70s. The Mist itself and the monsters it brings are just the appetizer here. As all good horror should be, this explores the ultimate enemy, ourselves. In short one of the most beautiful, thrilling and terrible times I've had at the movies.

To elaborate, it isn't a pitch perfect film... Some of the CGI at the beginning is weak, and there are a few lines that can't escape the genre, but other than that this is a home run in every department - The performances (especially from Toby Jones and Marcia Gay Harden), the ingenious hand held camera, which is never used as a gimmick. The sound design, the lack of an underscore... This lends to the great atmosphere and tension Darabont builds. I'm sure you can guess by now this isn't schmaltzy, sentimental Darabont here; this is an angry, maniacal man that rears his head and shouts, "Everything is lost!" and then shoots you in the gut. Any fan of Stephen King, The Twilight Zone or Ray Bradbury, will greedily devour this with a great big grin on their face, then feel very sick but so damn happy and then throw up. Best film of the year yet.

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95 out of 154 people found the following comment useful :-
This King adaptation gets it right, 2 December 2007

Author: pnarco

I was very impressed by this adaptation of Stephen King's 'The Mist'. I have been a fan of the story since it came out and have played the text game and have heard the 3-D audio version of it. This is a masterful suspense/monster movie that puts an ensemble cast into the untenable situation of being in a deteriorating situation they cannot escape from. We watch as alliances are formed, religious paranoia takes hold and, nicely, the movie takes the time to establish characters whom we come to care for before the true action begins. I dock it a couple of points because some of the monsters seemed a little too cgi, and the middle lags a bit, but the much talked about ending is indeed awesome and I was most impressed by the director's decision to keep the music soundtrack down and even eliminate it completely during many of the action sequences. So many movies nowadays crank the music up to 11 to make up for the fact that their suspense scenes do not work. This movie does. I was breathlessly on the edge of my seat for most of it, even though I was already familiar with the story. Highly recommended.

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74 out of 126 people found the following comment useful :-
Great movie where the characters actually have substance., 16 December 2007

Author: brown945 from Canada

It seems that Frank Darabont can do no wrong when faced with bringing Stephen King novels to the big screen. He masterfully directed The Green Mile as well as one of the greatest movies, if not the greatest -opinion of course-, film of all time, The Shawshank Redemption. This movie is not another gore fest slasher movie. Granted it has its fair share of gruesome violence, but it is the signature way in which King develops his characters and focuses on human nature and emotion that allows this movie to succeed.

Rather than focus on how the mist got to their town or what exactly it was, the story zeros in on how the people co-exist with one another in spite of occurrences which they cannot fathom nor know how to deal with the supernatural foe. It is a primitive story based on human weakness and King's eternal themes of hope and fear. Fear of not just what we don't know or what goes bump in the night, but fear of ourselves and what we are capable of doing to one another.

Religion is an important element in this story that any theology, history or philosophy student could write a thesis on. When faced with fear of death do you turn to god? Smoke and mirrors. With reference to Castro, who himself made such a spectacle at his speeches that Cubans themselves could believe he was the second coming. It is not religion that is the evil force in the film but the way in which men and women exploit it to make themselves stronger and breed their own hate, fear and insecurity -clearly not a new theme-.

I really enjoyed watching this movie. It was complex, entertaining and albeit depressing, I found it satisfying at points -those who have seen it know what I am talking about-. If only more films had more substance to them and had some kind message, even if the message was a bit muddled. If only King would stay away from those television mini-series....-although I liked the Langoliers so there's no accounting for taste after all I guess-.

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102 out of 183 people found the following comment useful :-
Makes The Fog look like Romper Room, 20 November 2007

Author: BloodStone from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

*Thanks to a local radio station giving away free passes I was able to go to an advanced screening of SK's "The Mist" last night.

Let me be short & to the point; This film is GREAT!! "The Mist" makes Carpenter's "The Fog" look like "It's a Wonderful Life" (& I'm a big fan of The Fog). The Mist is very true to SK's novella with an alternative ending thrown in that is THE most depressing cinematic ending since Disney's "Old Yeller." The characters are engaging & the critters that emerge from the mist are THE most disturbing & skin-crawling creations since Peter Jackson's King Kong crevice creatures(HP Lovecraft would be proud). There is a fair amount of blood & gore in the film but it's not over-done or over the top. Suspense & characterizations are where The Mist draws its true power from not SPFX (most of the critters are CGI but it's done fairly well). Overall, I had a BLAST with this film. Director Frank Darabont (who has directed The Shawshank Redemption & The Green Mile)has directed one for the books gang & a film not to be missed or put off till it comes to DVD.

BloodStone's recommendation: Do not miss The Mist.

BloodStone's rating 9.5 out of 10.

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66 out of 120 people found the following comment useful :-
When the scary parts of a film make you laugh..., 22 November 2007

Author: caithiseach from St. Cloud, Minnesota

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Considering "Shawshank" and "Green Mile" turned out so well, I expected this superb King story to make a superb movie. I'm guessing that the reason for the delay in opening (moved from November 16 to November 21) was so Mr. King could have his cameo deleted so we wouldn't associate him with the film. That is a mere hypothesis, but it's as realistic as anything in this movie.

Logic issues beset this movie. The mist hangs immobile over the lake by the Drayton home, and there is time to take a leisurely drive into town. But when a panicky shopper runs for his pickup, the mist is rolling toward him so fast he can't get his door unlocked (as if people in Castle Rock lock their doors for a quick trip to the grocer's).

The guy who runs in screaming "There's something in the mist!" has a bloody nose from falling but no scratches on his chin and no damage to his clothing. Odd. There is no cell service, no land lines working, no electricity, but by golly the newspaper got printed with the whole Mist story. Was the press cranked by hand? And all those newsboys walked untouched through the mist to make their deliveries. Lucky guys.

Tell me, where did the store get a thousand bags of dog food when there was not much else stocked in the store? How did Jim's mouth stay bloody for two days when the crazy evangelical got smacked across the face, touched her mouth, showed her bloody fingers, yet had no blood anywhere on her face? How could the generator on the loading dock be overwhelmingly loud and smelly except when people talked? There's nothing wrong with having your characters yell over the sound of machinery.

What I'm saying is that the poorly designed "realistic" touches might have been fine in a movie less serious about attempting to mimic reality. But bad continuity and everyday phenomena that just don't happen that way don't lead one to accept extraordinary phenomena very well.

How often does a lunatic talking in a grocery store get ten minutes to preach without being shut up by a circle of 20-30 onlookers? Almost every monologue (by any character) went uninterrupted for far longer than human nature would allow. Why? The screenplay had things these people needed to say. Way too Broadway and far too unrealistic for a "real-life" drama.

What did work well was the gruesome critters, though their scenes were often punctuated by bad dialogue, none of which I can recall other than "I think we may be facing a serious situation here" or something like that. The means used to hurt these creatures were often borrowed from "Alien" and other shows, so that was detrimental to the scenes as well, even if those methods were the best ways to destroy the beasts.

The ending...not tragic, because it showed a lot of stupidity on the part of a few characters. It turns out that ten more minutes of patience on their part would have been a healthy thing. The irony was far too trite.

There was a lot of silence in the film, no music until one key scene. By then, the music was jarring because of its prior absence. I would ditch it.

In sum, the offhanded ill-treatment of everyday life features became laughable and made what was in some other ways a meticulous film a hard story to dig into, a challenge to find frightening. Go see it, but don't expect to see much of the ultra-realistic King flavor in the actual realization of his excellent story. In fact, you won't see King at all.

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