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| Release Date: | November 21, 2007 (US) |
| Runtime: | 127 min |
| Rated: | Rated R for violence, terror and gore, and language. |
| Genres: | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller |
| Directed by: | Frank Darabont |
| Written by: | Stephen King, Frank Darabont |
| Starring: | Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, Toby JOnes, William Sadler, Chris Owen |
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 Stephen King adaptations have long been a source of discussion for movie fans and King fans alike. Endless debates about which ones rock and which ones stink permeate message boards and chat rooms. No matter where you go (at least movie-wise), you’re bound to find a Stephen King discussion somewhere.
I’ll get to reviewing The Mist in a minute, but first I have to say a couple things.
1. I have not read the novella by King on which this movie is based, so I can’t say how it compares to it and what changes have been made.
2. When it comes to reviewing book-to-film adaptations, I tend to be one to focus on whether or not the movie itself is good, rather than how it compares to the book. In all honesty, the books are usually better than the movies, so why try and compare the two?
Now, with that out of the way, here’s my take on the film:
The Mist is great. You just need to know that right away. In terms of recent horror films, it is probably the best to come out in the last ten years. Forget your torture flicks, or your Japanese ghost movies, or your glossy horror film remakes. This is true horror. The kind of horror that REALLY gets to you; not by grossing you out or making you jump from a loud sound (although the film does have moments like that). It does so by tapping into those primal fears that we all have. The Mist does this, and it does it well. It’s an extremely effective film that works on many levels and is one that is not to be forgotten. Again, I don’t know how it compares to the novella, but I do know that as a film (not just a horror film), it is entirely successful on pretty much every level.
Now, I did say on “pretty much” every level this film succeeded, which means that I did have one or two minor qualms when it came to The Mist.
The first one is the effects. Unfortunately, a lot of them looked just like that: effects. Not living breathing things that I should be afraid of. Still, I was able to suspend disbelief for the length of the film and get caught up in the events being depicted on screen.
My second complaint comes from something a group of characters do near the beginning of the movie. I won’t say what it is because it DOES set up a good, suspenseful scene, but I did think it was stupid what they did and why.
Other than that, though, the film was great. If you’re sick to death of the latest remake/sequel/prequel/whatever the hell it is, and you want a horror film with some power behind it, I highly suggest watching The Mist. In these times, I doubt you could do much better.
Mark Warner out! |
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