~Cast~The Mist (2007)
~Cast~
Thomas Jane..................David Drayton
Marcia Gay Harden.........Mrs. Carmody
Laurie Holden.................Amanda Dunfrey
Toby Jones.....................Ollie Weeks
William Sadler.................Jim Grodin
Directed By................Frank Darabont
Reviewed By: Lauren O'Brien
Lauren's Rating:
I never had any real intention of going to see The Mist. I had never read the Stephen King novel the film was based on, and I usually enjoy reading beforehand. I had heard that the film was a great adaptation, and one person even claimed the film was better than the novel. Regardless, I was asked to go see the film with a close friend and I agreed. I actually had a clean slate going in since I did not care to see the movie one way or the other, which is a rarity.
The movie starts out well, setting up the happy, small town feel, which will obviously be disrupted in a horrible manner very soon. The relationships within the film are also made clear early on, which becomes crucial near the end. Thomas Jane, who plays the lead Dave Drayton, pulls off the caring father role well and remains strong during the entire film. One of the greatest perks of the entire film is the characterization, which might answer why the film is considered a great adaptation of the novel. The film pushes you to love certain characters and despise others. Without giving too much away, thunderous applause broke out in the theater I went to when a certain character finally got what they deserved. Everyone watching the movie clapped, cheered, and hollered, including myself. But, there were certain elements of the film that did not deserve admiration.
For a film made in 2007, the special effects looked like they came from a cheap Sci-Fi Channel movie. The first glimpse of what actually dwelled in the mist was disappointing, and the creature almost looked as if the people who designed it did not care to mask it was CGI. Thankfully, what some of the creatures could do made them terrifying, despite their poor appearances. The film truly captures almost every possibly, painful way to die. The variety in the beasts also helps. There is not just one awful creature lurking, there are thousands, and you would wish to never have to encounter any of them. All of the actors helped build the fear in the audience with their panicked performances. The film, similar to 28 Days Later, shows what people really might do under extreme circumstances, which is often times scarier than the circumstances themselves.
The film carries this panic feel until the very end, and never gives a full release. Unlike a lot of other horror movies in this genre, The Mist does not have a picture perfect happy ending. I will not reveal the ending, but unless you have read the book, you will be shocked. The film does a great job of not giving away the ending and not being predictable, which helps cement the film as one of the best horror films in this category lately.
If you enjoyed this review by Lauren, make sure to check out her film live journal at http://fireflyfilms.livejournal.com !