The Mist (2007): Stephen King’s nightmarish trip to the store
2007 • Frank Darabont • 1.85:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Frank Darabont‘s film The Mist, adapted from a novella by Stephen King, begins when a strange mist envelops a small town. A group of people becomes trapped inside a supermarket while unknown creatures lurk outside. As the situation deteriorates, tensions between the survivors escalate, creating a conflict that becomes as threatening as the external danger.
Alternating between the exterior threat lurking in the mist and the interior threats growing in plain sight, the film finds horror in both the monsters and the humans. The tension builds as the internal disputes become inescapable, with going outside leading to certain and gory deaths. The external menace only serves to amplify the divisions among the humans.
The Mist leaves a lot unseen, but when it shows, the horror is either visually repulsive or overwhelmingly massive. But it’s the psychological drama that makes the film even more effective. Ultimately, though, it’s the bleakness of the ending that leaves the biggest impression, making The Mist a disturbing horror experience.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: Following a violent storm, a strange mist descends upon a small town, trapping the residents inside a supermarket. There, they must confront deadly creatures — and each other — as fear and paranoia spiral out of control. Read my review of The Mist.
- Actors: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, Andre Braugher, Nathan Gamble, Jeffrey DeMunn.
- Director: Frank Darabont
- Year: 2007
- Cinematographer: Rohn Schmidt
- Origin: American Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Genre: Horror & Supernatural
