The Mist
The Mist is based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name. Director Frank Darabont creates an eerie ambience that instills fear in the movie watcher. He succeeds in scaring you on the premise that you have nothing to fear, except the creatures of your imagination. The Mist feeds on the idea that scared folk with overactive imaginations tend to overreact when inexplicable things start to happen around them.
Rating:3/5
The story opens to a group of people lead by David Drayton played by Thomas Jane and his son Billy, essayed by Nathan Gamble stuck in the local grocery store due to a puzzling and dense mist. Most of the characters are in the store to replenish groceries in anticipation of a worsening weather. The plot thickens when a bloodied man rushes inside the store and reveals that his companion has mysteriously disappeared in the thick mist, pulled in by something or someone. From then on things go wrong and people who venture in to the mist do not return.
Stephen King
The story reaches criticality when a religious fanatic Marcia Gray Harden decides to use prayers and even offers human sacrifice to appease the gods and to drive away the evil spirits from the mist. However David Drayton is not convinced about the danger in the mist and decides to take his chances outside, rather than put up with normal people displaying abnormal behavior inside the store. The interaction between David’s group and the mist that seems to have a life of its own as it swirls and behaves like a menacing creature are chilling to the bone. Darabont has put life into the mist and given it a upsetting and scary form as he depicts characters simply melting into the mist. This sheer picturisation is more effective than any sound effect or special effect.
Frances Sternhagen, Laurie Holden, Thomas Jane, Nathan Gamble in The Mist
The director has drawn some unnerving performances from Harden as the religious extremist and from Jane who is trying to understand the mystery unfolding and simultaneously wants to save his son from harm. Gamble, as his son Billy is quite good, especially when he is scared and wails for his mother. Andre Braugher as one of the atheists is convincing, as is Laurie Holden who tries to soothe little Billy. Frances Sternhagen, Sam Witwer and Jeffrey DeMunn who play David’s accomplices in running from the store do a good job of their assigned roles.
Laurie Holden, Thomas Jane, Nathan Gamble in The Mist
Darabont does an excellent job of recreating the horror and chilling details of King’s murky story. The tight script realistically captures the workings of the human mind that creates monstrosities where none exist. Darabont leaves some gaps in the film that you can easily visualize and fill in. He gives shape to the disturbing creatures of the mist using some special effects and creates a twist in the ending that will keep you glued to your seat right till the end. This is one movie that is a must watch for die-hard fans of Mr. King.
Rating: 3/5
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