Stephen King's The Mist (2008, DVD)

Of the 108 Stephen King adaptations for film or TV, I am only familiar with a handful of them - 16 to be exact (counting also the film under review). Frank Darabont joins a list of remarkable past alumni (Brian De Palma, Stanley Kubrick, David Cronenberg, John Carpenter) with this well-crafted monster movie with pretensions. Actually, Darabont is no newcomer to Stephen King territory - having already based three of his four feature-length movies on his work! - but this is the first movie I've seen from the director and, perhaps significantly, the only one of the three which is horror-related.

Frankly, I wasn't even aware of the film at all before reviews of its DVD release started cropping up through my Amazon friends. As far as I can recall, theatrical release wasn't spread so widely, perhaps the name Stephen King (because of rampant overexposure over the years) nowadays no longer enjoys the same crowd-pulling effect as it did during his heyday. Still, judging by that modest crowd of actors assembled for the film and its clearly intentional "realism" (read a flat, made-for-TV look and relatively restrained gore), the film-makers hardly endeavored to boost its box-office chances any. Besides, we have lately been literally invaded by monster/alien movies so that it isn't hard for one (even as solid as this one is) to get lost in the shuffle.

This story takes place in a small seaside American town that wakes up one morning to find itself enveloped in a mysterious cloud of thick mist. Soon enough, it becomes abundantly evident that this houses a barrage of slimy, unnaturally-enlarged and very deadly creatures of the bugs variety. To this tried-and-tested formula, Darabont and King add other much-used elements (religious fanaticism, military incompetence, scientific experimentation, impending apolcalypse, etc.) but take them beyond their bleakest and most ironic possibilities. The last half-hour, in fact, is where the film gets all choked up in message-mongering - complete with an overwhelmingly melancholic score. Indeed, learning that Darabont has even "presented" his own original black-and-white vision (as opposed to version) of this film on DVD only adds smoke to the fiery theory that this was intended from the start to be much more than a mere monster movie. Despite good work all around and the best intentions, THE BIRDS (1963), it certainly ain't...

Anyhow, the festering tensions between the diverse factions trapped (for most of the film) inside a supermarket and the inherent suspense present in the group's generally unsuccessful excursions on the "outside" are skillfully handled and, despite the anonymity of the actors involved, some of the townspeople are blessed with full-blooded characterizations, most prominently Marcia Gay Harden (as the unbalanced, ultra-religious spinster). Most viewers won't fine the characters in this film intriguing but you can't deny Marcia Gay. I was pretty tired the night I watched it but it never let me take even a yawn! The story was superb with great thrills and suspense, but the thing that intrigued me most was the story had some realistic touch. Altogether I have to say this movie is not worth a miss.

This is already another wonderful classic from the very talented writer Stephen King. This movie will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat throughout the entire movie. I give it a 100% satisfaction rating and really did enjoy the film. A "must have" for any collection!

WELL I LIKE ALL HORROR MOVIES,I SAW THE COMING ATTRACTIONS AND THOUGHT I WOULD BUY THE MOVIE IT WAS GREAT AND VERY ENTERTAINING I REALLY LIKED IT ALOT IT SURELY MAKES YOU WONDER ABOUT THE PLAGUES IN THE WORLD.

Great seller, received very quickly, been looking for this one for a while, very happy to see it on ebay, have yet to be disgruntled with anything I've gotten

I loved this movie. I saw it at the movies and just had to add it to my collection. I bought it first of all because I was looking for a gently used copy. The price was way below what I expected to pay for it. The seller had a good rep and when I received the movie, it looked brand new. I will buy from this seller again they have reasonable pricing and great products

Great movie, in excellent condition. Would most definately buy again from site. One of my favorite movies since I saw it in the Theaters had to have it. Thanks again.

OH MY GOSH!!!! STEPHEN KING HAS OUTDONE HIMSELF ON THIS ONE!! THIGS YOU WONTEXPECT COME UP, KEEPS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT THE WHOLE TIME ONCE IT GETS GOING..TOOK IT TO WORK AND ALL THE CO WORKERS MOUTHS WERE JUST DROPPED OPEN MOST OF THE TIME, THE SMOKERS WOULDNT EVEN GET UP TO GO SMOKE BECAUSE THEY DIDNT WANT TO MISS ANY PART OF IT!!! I GOT IT BECAUSE HUBBY LOVES ALL THE STEPHEN KING STUFF...IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THIS, YOU HAVE TO...IN MY BOOK THIS IS STEPHEN KINGS BEST MOVIE!!!!!

READ THIS AS A KID AND FREAKED, THE MOVIE IS AS IT SHOULD BE, SCARY AND CRAZY. MY ONLY SMIDGEN OF A COMPLAINT WOULD BE, THE EXTRAS CUT OUT COULD VERY EASILY BE LEFT IN. IF ANYTHING THEY HELP EXPLAIN PLOT AND FLESH OUT THE CHARACTERS A BIT BETTER, BUT , WOW,
I WAS SO BLOWN AWAY I WATCHED IT THREE TIMES THE WEEK WE RENTED IT, THEN WENT TO EBAY AND BOUGHT A COPY. STEPHEN'S ABSOLUTE BEST WORK!

what a great movie! you wont believe the ending!keeps you glued to your seat! Stephen King has never made a bad movie! a must have for your movie collection!

love the movie, action packed good effects the quality of the dvd was excellent as always King puts a great twist on the movie that just blew me away, the monsters were a work of mastery probably the one thing that stood out was the interaction of people caught up in a situation.

ONE OF KINGS BETTER MOVIES I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY ENTERTAINING MOVIE AND WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO MY FRIENDS

Great movie! True Steven King! For those of us who love "happy endings" .. .. of course, we ARE watching Steven King!!!! LOL But it was a really great movie! Special effects were very good. And definitely suspense! Thomas Jane was GREAT . . . as always!

I don't think that this is one of stephen king's best works. He was much better in the eighties such as christine and cujo.

This movie is pretty good. It takes a few of the ideas from the original ps game "Silent Hill" but that's okay, since many have never played the game.

The ending, well I wont ruin it for those who haven't seen it... but he should've waited to get killed!

It's an average movie. It did keep my attention through out and the ending was real good. Otherwise it ran a bit too long.

I liked it because I had rented it from Blockbuster and wanted to purchase a copy for myself. I like it and everything was great about the quality of the DVD picture. It was delivered ahead of time and I have been enjoying the movie ever since.

I like all of

stephen king's move's it was a good one and i'll add to my coltion that i got started . I have toled all my frineds and family about the dvd . Thank you ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What happens when the door to a parallel universe gets opened and just like Pandora's box unleashes a maelstrom of frightening creatures. I have been a fan of Stephen King for a long time. I will read almost anything he writes and see just about any movie he is connected with. He has been away for a while and this movie was worth the wait. Could be considered a cautionary tale, it will make you squirm.

This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I would highly recommend you see it if you haven't. I've heard people complaining about the ending and I admit the ending is a little weird but that's what makes it so fun, there's probably going to be a Mist 2!

Heard this was a good movie. I did not like it. My husband hated it. Made me think of how policeman have quotas, maybe King needs money and just hashes out more drivel. Between this movie and Dumas Key ... I am spending my money on books and movies without his name on them from now on!

Not one of kings better movies. About the only thing that was really good was th ending. Very predictable ending. I am a King fan usually but this was not one of his better works in my opinion.

AFTER A MYSTERIOUS MIST ENVELOPS A SMALL NEW ENGLAND TOWN, A GROUP OF LOCALS TRAPPED IN A SUPERMARKET MUST BATTLE A SIEGE OF OTHERWORLDLY CREATURES...AND THE FEARS THAT THREATEN TO TEAR THEM APART.THE MIST IS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF 2007,IT'S ONE OF THE BEST HORROR MOVIES EVER MADE.PERIOD.

I liked the movie, however, the loud mouthed bible thumper needed to be 'sacrificed' to the monsters. She got on my nerves!

Must see if you like scary movies. Stephen King does his best one yet. All I can say is does anyone have a gun to shoot the Church Lady,lol. Will she ever hut up, find out see the movie.