Approx. Runtime: 126 minutes (2 hours, 06 minutes)
Language Watched: English
Other Language(s) Available: French
DVD Extra Content? None
Type of Movie: Horror, Suspense, Psychological
Overall Impression: I hate this movie, but I must admit -- it's well done and worth seeing at least once.
SPOILER ALERT WARNING!!
This review will contain some spoilers -- or rather, there will be a "Spoilers" section at the end of the review to go into further detail about certain things. There may still be slight spoilers throughout the review, but I've tried my best to keep them at a minimum.
A NOTE ABOUT ME AND HORROR MOVIES
I have a love-hate thing with horror movies. I enjoy watching them but they usually scare me silly, even the terrible ones. Because of that, I actually haven't seen many horror movies -- so scenes, ideas, themes, certain aspects that seasoned horror movie-watchers would see as common, I may see as different or new. Just saying so you know my bias on horror movies, in case it shows in my review.
PERSONAL STANDING (Pre-exposures, thoughts, etc.)
I don't remember when (around 2006 or early 2007), but I saw a trailer for The Mist in theatres. Right away I knew I wanted to watch it. I thought the premise was neat. And all I thought was: What are they going to do in this situation? Will they get out? This scene really intrigued me:
I missed it in theatres, which wasn't a surprise. I can only watch horror movies in theatres with somebody and if I know I'll be accompanied all the way "home". But I still remembered the movie, knowing that I'll watch it one day.
Then last year, I bought The Mist on DVD with 1408, another movie that's on my "list". When I got home I watched The Mist almost right away... by myself (I don't watch horror movies by myself) -- that's how much I wanted to watch it.
If you can't tell what's going on, a white string is being pulled in and there's blood on it.
I missed it in theatres, which wasn't a surprise. I can only watch horror movies in theatres with somebody and if I know I'll be accompanied all the way "home". But I still remembered the movie, knowing that I'll watch it one day.
Then last year, I bought The Mist on DVD with 1408, another movie that's on my "list". When I got home I watched The Mist almost right away... by myself (I don't watch horror movies by myself) -- that's how much I wanted to watch it.
STORY
The Mist starts with a freak storm aftermath that leads David Drayton (main character) to drive into town with his son to pick up supplies. While they're in the grocery store, the doomsday bell goes off, and a bloodied man comes running in the store, telling them not to go out into the mist. And there's the premise. People stuck in a grocery store surrounded by a mist full of danger. What's going to happen?!
PACING
For a movie that's slightly over two hours long, the pacing is actually very good. There are some highly intense scenes and then some breather moments with character development and dialogue. It didn't really feel like two hours when I watched it. It felt shorter.
JUST ANOTHER HORROR MOVIE?
Yes and no. There are a few predictable plot points, like some characters trying to leave the store; some characters trying to visit another place for more supplies -- and then something unfortunate happening.
What makes it not just another horror movie (at least to me) is the way it looks at human behaviour. How do individuals behave when they are stuck in one location, believing that there is danger all around? How would individuals interact with one another when they think there's no hope? Or that they may be the only ones left alive? While I find this aspect different, it is also one of the reasons why I hate this movie. It's just... so negative, how it looks at human behaviour.
What makes it not just another horror movie (at least to me) is the way it looks at human behaviour. How do individuals behave when they are stuck in one location, believing that there is danger all around? How would individuals interact with one another when they think there's no hope? Or that they may be the only ones left alive? While I find this aspect different, it is also one of the reasons why I hate this movie. It's just... so negative, how it looks at human behaviour.
ACTING/CHARACTERS
The acting is very believable and honest. I don't know what else to say here. I have no complaints. Props to them all!
While you may question some of their actions while watching the movie, thinking, They should do this instead of this or Why are they doing this? It will only make the situation worse, those actions and responses are actually very human. One example of this is one character blaming another character for an unfortunate incident that the first character was so insistent upon (more detailed scene description in "Spoilers" section). While some may think, What a stupid thing to do, this character making excuses to escape blame, it is a human response -- individuals tend to not want to take responsibilities for their own thoughts or actions, especially if it results in feeling guilty or something negative.
Overall, this makes the characters very human and real... but also, it could also make some of them not enjoyable to watch, seeing how flawed humans can be.
CHARACTERS
Like in many horror movies, there is a large cast of characters -- many with distinct personalities. Some are likeable, some are not; some you wish would be the next victim, and some you wish would stay alive.While you may question some of their actions while watching the movie, thinking, They should do this instead of this or Why are they doing this? It will only make the situation worse, those actions and responses are actually very human. One example of this is one character blaming another character for an unfortunate incident that the first character was so insistent upon (more detailed scene description in "Spoilers" section). While some may think, What a stupid thing to do, this character making excuses to escape blame, it is a human response -- individuals tend to not want to take responsibilities for their own thoughts or actions, especially if it results in feeling guilty or something negative.
Overall, this makes the characters very human and real... but also, it could also make some of them not enjoyable to watch, seeing how flawed humans can be.
MUSIC
I honestly don't remember much of the music, which means it blended nicely with the atmosphere. There was a track that sounded almost... angelic, but in a dark, hopeless way.
WHY I HATE THE MIST
There are two main reasons why I hate The Mist.
1. THE ATMOSPHERE/LOOK AT HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
The Mist is a really gritty, dark movie with characters who are very human. That kind of mix is just asking for unpleasant situations and interactions. And because the acting was done very well... and I am an empathetic person... there are times when I felt emotionally drained... and horrified... at some of the scenes. When I say horrified, I don't mean horrified in that something from the mist spooked me -- I mean horrified in that that certain scenario, in those conditions, could happen for real. There's one scene in particular that I'm thinking of, but I'll mention that at the "Spoilers" section.
2. THE ENDING
I hate the ending. I have to admit that it fits, but I still hate it. I can't really elaborate much here, but I'll say this: I felt like screaming. Really... screaming. Not out of fear, in case you were wondering. This will probably be a small rant in the "Spoilers" section.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Yes, I hate The Mist, but I can't deny that overall, this is a very good horror movie. I would almost urge you to watch this at least once -- so that you can enjoy "horror" on different levels. Hmm... I think I'll elaborate this last point in the "Spoilers" section.
I'll end this review with a screenshot. Then I'll do the scrolly thing and the "Spoilers" section will appear after that. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoilers" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.
I'll end this review with a screenshot. Then I'll do the scrolly thing and the "Spoilers" section will appear after that. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoilers" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.
See nothing? Well, there's something there... far, far in the distance.
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SPOILERS
"One example of [a human response or action] is one character blaming another character for an unfortunate incident that the first character was so insistent upon."
The scene I'm talking about here is when Jim (blue jumpsuit guy) is insistent that the generator outside the loading docks be fixed despite David's warning about hearing a sound. Jim goes so far as to threaten to beat David up if he didn't shut up. Of course, the worst happens:
This is not Jim (unfortunately). This is the store's bag boy, who believed there was nothing to fear (because Jim also kept saying that there was nothing to worry about).
After this ordeal, Jim keeps saying that it's not his fault, saying that it's David's fault for not explaining what he meant better about hearing a sound. It's appalling, to even hear a character say such words -- because it's such... bad character. But that kind of response does happen in real life.
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"When I say horrified, I don't mean horrified in that something from the mist spooked me -- I mean horrified in that that certain scenario, in those conditions, could happen for real."
The scene I'm talking about here is when Mrs. Carmody's (unstable religious fanatic) followers blame Private Jessup (the military guy) for the mist. They end up surrounding him, beating him up. Eventually, somebody stabs him... multiple times before throwing him out into the mist.
The pain Private Jessup expressed when he got stabbed... kinda traumatized me. The more horrifying thing was the situation: a guy who had no direct involvement with the Arrowhead Project (project that probably brought out the dangers) was made a scapegoat for a crowd's fear, frustrations, and anger. And they think it's all justified... That kind of thing can happen in real life -- when people feel hopeless, desperate, and want some kind of guidance... or even to focus on doing something to avoid the current situation. It's just a harsh way of looking at human behaviour -- and it drains me, to see something so negative.
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"I hate the ending."
"I would almost urge you to watch this at least once -- so that you can enjoy "horror" on different levels."
I really, really hate the ending. They were this close to being saved... and it all could have been avoided if David did not take the gun. It also could have been avoided if they had decided to just sit in the car until the last possible moment and then off themselves when they really had no choice (like if a monster got into the car). They got so far... how could they give up, just like that?! It makes me want to scream -- out of frustration and the extreme mental anguish that David would be going through; killing his friends and son... only to see that he didn't have to.
This leads very well into my last thought -- about experiencing different levels of "horror" with The Mist. While writing this review, I came to a realization about what makes this a true "horror" to me -- but I'll get to that shortly. I also came to realize that The Mist explores the idea of "horror" in different ways:
1. Superficial, horror-genre stuff: The horror of the unknown. What's in the mist? What kind of dangers are there? That's the regular kind of horror anybody would expect from a horror movie.
2. Situational, human behaviour: I've touched on this a few times already. The horrors of a crowd reacting and responding to situations that bring out the worst human qualities in them. If you are on the receiving end of that kind of crowd... when you know you've done nothing to deserve it -- that's horror.
3. True horror: I think the true horror of The Mist is the horrors of one's own actions. There are certain kinds of actions that once done (like David killing his friends and son), cannot be undone. The kind of pain, the kind of guilt that would be experienced when one realizes that such actions didn't have to take place -- that is true horror. David succeeded in escaping from the first kind of horror (though he did not realize it). He also escaped from the second kind of horror. But this... the horror of what he did... to his friends and son... when he didn't have to... it's something that would stay with him for the rest of his life. If that's not true horror, I don't know what is.
If you read my spoilers, thank for reading them! Now to finish with more scrolly things. If you disagree with anything or just want to say something, feel free to comment :D
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