Directed by: Frank Darabont
Written by: Frank Darabont
Starring: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden
After The Thing (2011) I felt the need to watch another modern horror with somewhat moderate reception. The Mist was the first thing that came to mind.
*Warning: Spoilers Ahead*
A small band of people hide out in a supermarket after an anomalous storm blankets a whole town in mist. The film depicts the struggles of these people; against the monsters that plague them, and against each other as a cult attitude develops among the majority.
Honestly, this movie is good, but whenever I hear people talk about it, they always discuss how the ending is one of the most mind-blowing they've ever seen. I'll say a little on it, but I feel the need to address the film as a whole.
The ending of the film is definitely powerful, whether you love it or hate it. For those who haven't seen it, I won't spoil the details, though even saying that the ending has impact is a bit of a spoiler in itself. I definitely appreciated the way it solidified the films's bleak tone, and gave more than the original Stephen King ending from the book the film is based on.
The rest of the film's tone is depressing and infuriating. The way the people behave towards one another because of their fear is at the best of times annoying; people disagree or talk down to others because of their own insecurities. At the worst of times the characters are truly terrifying, with the character or Mrs. Carmody (played with satanic glee by Marcia Gay Harden), who manages to use her religious beliefs to cultivate this idea that the mist is the result of the end times discussed in the Book of Revelation. Carmody is the scariest thing about this film, conniving and malicious, preying on the weak and exploiting their fear, all under the misguided belief that bringing people to God this way will earn her extra points with Him.
That's not to discount the horror of the monsters, however. While the CGI may look a little fake at times, the designs of the monsters are excellently detailed; their biblical look only reinforces Carmody's message, even as it is revealed that the creatures may be extradimensional rather than supernatural.
The cinematography is effective here at creating a sense of claustrophobia. There's a lot of tight close ups, and shots from behind shoulders, it really gives the impression that there's very little space and that the people are growing to distrust one another.
The acting isn't great most of the time. I like Thomas Jane, but he doesn't deliver a strong performance; he's mostly flat with little personality, so when he gets shout-y it just feels inconsistent. Andre Braugher's character is so very one-note, but so are most of the characters, and he performs this role well even if it isn't likable. Like I've said, Harden gives the strongest performance here. There is, however, one other, much smaller role I'd like to highlight. Sam Witwer as Private Jessup, who some may know from the Smallville TV series or Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video games. His character isn't developed past 'well-meaning army guy', but Witwer gives it his all during his death scene, which is almost as haunting as the film's ending; his screams echoed and his expression was depressingly hopeless, it's truly one of the film's most memorable moments.
The Verdict: It's pretty good, all things considered. The acting and characterisation is variable in quality, thought the film does far more to humanise its characters than most modern horrors. The plot is intriguing, even if the message is awfully heavy-handed, and of course the ending, like it or not, will leave a pit in your stomach. I recommend the film if you don't mind your messages a little drawn out and on the nose, because the whole set up is really interesting to watch unfold. The horror elements definitely make this film inappropriate for kids.
Rating: 6.5/10
Published July 27th, 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment