Marcus Flor reviews The Mist

I've sometimes wondered, while out doing errands, "what if the world ended right now and I was stuck with strangers around me?" 2007's The Mist is an interesting, and bleak, answer to that question.

The film follows a group of mid-Westerners as the supermarket they're in is enveloped by a fog that hides otherworldly monsters. In true Stephen King fashion, the film is focused on the characters' reaction to the mist, rather than the mist itself. Don't get me wrong though; we do get our fair share of Lovecraftian monster action.

The most interesting part of the film is the large cast of characters. They represent most sections of Western society, and give the viewer so many possible reactions to the mist. Despite them making some occasionally stupid decisions, they're a believable collection of people who react believably to the decent into chaos.

This movie is refreshing because it isn't afraid to say what it has to say. Honestly, I feel like many current filmmakers would omit certain elements, such as the dark ending and would-be cult leader, Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden). Luckily, director Frank Darabont didn't, and we got a fairly compelling tale of survival.

It's not perfect, but it's better than most. It's Good, and give it a watch this Halloween season.

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