The Mist
In theaters November 21st 2007
Violence, terror and gore, and language
Run Time: 127 min
Matt's rating - 3
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Review by Matt Mungle
2007 Mungleshow Productions
Human nature can be more terrifying than anything
lurking under your bed or tucked away in your closet.
You put normal, everyday people in a stressful
environment and you have the opportunity to see the
worst in mankind. Stephen King has always been the
master of that perspective look into human life. He
has a way of using the scary creatures as a
springboard for the real terror. How we react. The new
film The Mist follows the mold that King forged in his
1985 short story of the same name. Director and
screenplay writer Frank Darabont was able to stay
pretty true to the original, which is always a wise
choice.
As a thick fog rolls through a small town the
inhabitants discover that death itself is concealed in
the mist. When the creatures start making themselves
known death seems a welcomed relief. Holed up in a
grocery store a handful of towns people must learn to
survive each other as much as what threatens from
outside. The character traits aren't unique, but it is
their actions that drive the story. Almost like animation.
They take a person and exaggerate their defining
characteristics to a heightened point. The outcome is
personified horror.
This film has the elements to please most thriller
horror fans but may be over the top for those who are
squeamish and like their terror clean and tidy.
The "creatures" are apocalyptic in design and a nice
change to the normal fare. Again I think the story line
is what makes this a decent film since there is only so
much you can do with things that go bump in the night.
Is this on the level with The Shining, Carrie or any of
the earlier King classics? Not even close. But it is a
well made film for the genre.
The Mist is rated R for violence, terror and gore, and
language. This is not a film for those of soft eyes and
ears. It is visually graphic and at times verbally and
physically violent. The language too is very adult in
nature. Unless you live in Tucumcari, NM and that is
your only choice, there are way better options for your
Holiday viewing and you are better off choosing
something for the whole family. I give it 3 out of 5. One,
because Stephen King is the master and I like that the
movie played and felt like a King book reads. Two, the
ending is unforgettable.
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Matt and Cindy are members of the North Texas
Film
Critics Association (NTFCA). For additional
reviews
and interview clips visit the website.
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