Stephen King’s The Mist – Fear of the Fog

The Mist     A-

Starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, and Toby Jones
Directed by Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption)
Rated R for violence, terror and gore, and language
Appropriate for ages 17+

The Story: The day after a major storm, a mist rolls into a small New England town.  Collecting post-storm supplies, many of the townsfolk find themselves trapped in a grocery store after they discover that there are deadly creatures in the mist that kill those that might venture outside. 

The Good: You want scary?  You got it here.  Both psychologically and physically frightening, The Mist delivers big chills and keeps the goosebumps a’bumpin.  While the monsters are truly terrifying, much of the frights arise from the dialogue of the great Darabont screenplay.  The ensemble acting by the entire cast is very good and the directing is just what you would expect from someone such as Darabont trying to make a horror flick. 

The Bad: Earlier this week, Stephen King commented “Frank wrote a new ending that I loved.  It is the most shocking ending ever and there should be a law passed stating that anybody who reveals the last 5 minutes of this film should be hung from their neck until dead.”  That being said, the end of this film is super bleak.  Many will not like it.  I won’t give it away, but will merely say that it is very disturbing and sickening.  I guess it’s just what the King ordered. 

The Summary: This pic is scary enough to make you think twice before setting foot in the fog again.