Verdict:
The Mist is intended and presented as a horror movie. Horror movies are supposed to keep you thrilled. The Mist struggles to deliver on this front, as too much focus is diverted onto something that doesn’t work.
We’re introduced to a small town enveloped in a thick mist, following a storm from the night before. Those exposed to the mist are killed by strange lifeforms. In this eerie setting, a group of townspeople is trapped inside a convenience store, puzzled as to what they should do next.
Stephen King’s specialty as a writer is in building complex characters. He dives into people’s thoughts and feelings. His social commentary, character development and atmospheric tension contribute to the richness of his works. But these strengths do not translate seamlessly to the screen. At the very least, you need a narrator, which many King-based films don’t have. And so, for me personally, film adaptations of his works usually do not work, with a few exceptions where the characters are complex and captivating enough.
The characters in The Mist are not. In fact, the screenplay makes them act as a bunch of violent special needs kids. Marcia Harden portrays a Christian zealot who incessantly preaches about the doomsday. The one moment of catharsis you get with this character is when she finally gets her comeuppance, but that takes way too long. William Sadler’s portrayal of an aggressive, dim-witted mechanic is overly convincing, so that he becomes another character you’d like to see kick the bucket. Thomas Jane is competent as the main character, but his performance is not charismatic or interesting enough.
Thus, you are left with all these unlikable or barely likable characters, and you’re stuck with them, just as they are stuck in that store with one another. The dialogue is uninspired and dumb. The conversations, much like the people who are stuck in the store, aren’t going anywhere.
It’s like some unintentionally brilliant artistic meta commentary. Me watch this film brings out the worst in me, much like the situation in the movie brings out the worst in those characters. This film is a mirror to the audiences.
The collapse of society under pressure appears to be the theme of The Mist, but it’s handled terribly and heavy-handedly.
The narrative takes an inordinate amount of time to build momentum, but once it gets to the point, The Mist does succeed in creating a foreboding atmosphere and unsettling encounters with the creatures. There are a few messed up deaths, and the fact that you don’t know what else the mist might harbour, makes for a tense watch. The thick mist becomes like a substitute for the nighttime and the unknown. The movie deals with the idea of desperation and its ending is fittingly bleak.
The creatures are a mixed bag. On the one hand, the decision was made to make them computer generated, and the effects REALLY did not age well. Instead of hiding the imperfections in the shadows or in quick cuts, the director put some of these poorly rendered sods on full display and in broad daylight. Some of the monster designs just look silly. On the other hand, certain creatures are far more effective, as they are not shown from up close, and you see their animalistic twitchy movements.
If you’re willing to endure a slow and often frustrating buildup, there might be something here. Although it falls short in almost every aspect, this film may be interesting for someone who’s looking for a departure from typical mindless gore and jump-scare flicks.