The killer creatures lurking in The Mist,
a scarily good horror flick based on the Stephen King short story, are
nothing compared to some of the people.
Take Mrs. Carmody, for instance.
Carmody, Marcia Gay Harden’s character in the Frank Darabont-directed
film, is a religious zealot convinced the ominous mist that enshrouds
her small town and the horrible havoc that follows represents the end
of the world, God’s punishment for the sins of humanity. She takes it
upon herself to convert other survivors, and dispatch anyone who won’t
adopt her beliefs. Harden delivers a chilling performance that helps
elevate The Mist above much of what passes for horror in theatres these
days.
This is Darabont’s third King adaptation after The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, and like those two films it’s on the lengthy side, especially given the genre (horror movies often don’t top 90 minutes, this one clocks in at 127). And though some scenes could arguably have been trimmed or cut completely, the director mostly stays on track, building slowly and steadily to a stunning conclusion that reportedly veers from the horror master’s story.
Thomas Jane adequately portrays the story’s everyman, artist David Drayton. Following a violent thunderstorm that knocks out the power, Drayton, his young son, and ornery neighbour Brent Norton (Andre Braugher) head into town together to pick up supplies at the local supermarket. As they’re waiting in line a thick, white mist rolls in – providing one of the film’s many goosebump-inducing moments – cloaking everything in the impenetrable fog. When one of the town’s residents comes screaming and bloodied through the door shouting about creatures in the mist, the rest decide to hole up in the store’s relative safety.
Laurie Holden, Thomas Jane, and Nathan Gamble in a scene from The Mist
That plan quickly goes awry as the survivors divide into camps – some believing hotshot attorney Norton who insists there’s nothing to be worried about, others following Carmody’s preachings that the mist represents the apocalypse, and those who, like Drayton, are afraid but don’t buy the religious explanation. Among the Drayton followers: assistant store manager Ollie (Toby Jones) and schoolteacher Amanda (Laurie Holden). The splitting off of groups leads to a spate of deadly encounters with the very-real creatures, which range from venomous insects the size of housecats to mysterious tentacled beasts much, much larger.
As time passes and more people die, the store survivors’ fear turns to paranoia and more of them cross over to Carmody’s way of thinking, putting Drayton and his band of pragmatists in increasing danger from them, much less the creatures. At the heart of King’s story and Darabont’s adaptation is the evil that lurks in the hearts of men (and women) and the terrible things humans are capable of when under duress.
Though The Mist is an engaging horror film throughout, it’s the ending that’ll haunt you as you leave the theatre. From the way the story shifts, to the addition of a haunting Dead Can Dance dirge in a film that before that point had little to no music in it at all, to an effective shot of headlights cutting through the fog, illuminating anxiety-gripped faces, it’s something moviegoers aren’t likely to forget. You might even find it gives you a nightmare or two – and isn’t that the hallmark of a good horror flick?
Posted by Cate Jones
Agree? Disagree? Email Cate at criticizecate@gmail.com
The Mist (*** out of 5)
Rated: R
Starring: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Written by: Frank Darabont, based on Stephen King short story
Related links: Official site, IMDB page, Apple trailer
Just Go there For Free Latest Movies .. Watch Online http://yo-movies.blogspot.com
Posted by: mohamm | March 02, 2009 at 11:20 AM
The antivirus on your computer is necessary. There is much dangerous in the internet. You must be careful. One of the most safe spyware programs is http://file.sh/the+cleaner+professional+torrent.html
Posted by: dolerik | April 21, 2009 at 07:31 AM
Watch Any Latest Movies online FOR FREE...And Request Your movies for free...Any time Any where...@ http://yo-movies.blogspot.com
Posted by: mohammad fazal | June 18, 2009 at 04:42 AM