Why The Mist is the most underrated Stephen King movie In 2007, a little known Stephen King adaptation would come and go at the box office without much fanfare. A […]

In 2007, a little known Stephen King adaptation would come and go at the box office without much fanfare.

A decade on, The Mist is finally earning the plaudits it deserves.

Frank Darabont’s underrated movie is the perfect antidote to those wanting to forget their experience with latest King adaptation The Dark Tower.

The i newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

The short novella upon which the film is based has also spawned a recent TV show.

But it is Darabont’s claustrophobic chiller, pitting a group of terrified shoppers against a mysterious and otherworldly force, that demands your attention.

Mankind is the true evil

Struggling on release, The Mist has grown into something of a cult classic over the past decade.

Survival horror at its finest, the film is a superbly unnerving example of King during his ‘mankind is the true evil’ phase.

As a mysterious cloud of mist descends on a small town, it soon becomes clear there are terrifying creatures within. And an ordinary cross-section of everyday people take shelter in a local supermarket.

The claustrophobic setting and heightening paranoia feeds the ever-growing spectre of mistrust.

The characters turn on one another. And it’s terrifying.

“Sure, as long as the machines are working and you can dial 911. But you take those things away, you throw people in the dark – no more rules” – David Drayton, The Mist

“The monsters outside the supermarket are a catalyst that brings out the monsters inside the trapped people,” says Bev Vincent, King expert and author of The Road to Dark Tower.

The idea of humanity eventually revealing itself as the true antagonist is what originally attracted Darabont to the novel, he explains.

“It’s the quintessential Stephen King trick of putting people in a strange situation, in a pressure cooker, and then just continually turning the heat up on that situation to see what happens.”

The film opens in the studio of poster artist David Drayton (Thomas Jane), focusing on artwork for the classic 1982 horror The Thing. The similarities between both movies are apparent from the get-go: the confined setting, internal conflicts, and twisted creatures.

However, The Mist is also a perfect allegory for post 9/11 America; encapsulating societal breakdown, and fear of the unknown. Characters in the movie are wary of the US military, and suspicious of their neighbours’ actions.

Attacks upon areas we perceive to be safe is where much of horror draws its fear-rousing from.

They don’t come much more mundanely safe than the aisles of a small town grocery store.

‘The Alamo as a creature feature’

Darabont is a true master of King adaptations.

“This allegorical microcosm of Bush Jr.-era America is spot on, and elevates an already-excellent film to even greater heights” – Bloody Disgusting

The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile are critically revered, the former on a messianic level. And The Mist, despite being often overlooked, is also incredibly considered.

“He had a vision of people trapped,” says Vincent. “The Alamo if it had been made by creature feature director.”

In the movie, tensions rise as people split into two rival bands. Some follow the logical Drayton; others flock to the fanatical religious preachings of Mrs Carmody.

The cast is stellar, with Marcia Gay Harden brilliantly bile-inducing as Carmody. Many would go on to work with Darabont again in his initial season of The Walking Dead.

When the monsters eventually do take centre-stage, the action is hectic and maddening, with the body count rapidly rising.

Sticking to his (bleak) guns

*Spoilers for the ending of The Mist follow*

The Mist is a tragic film, and the ending is a knockout blow. The final scene is both numbing and nauseating.

King himself praised the alternative ending, a change from his own work, which elevates the movie even further beyond an entertaining 2-hour horror jaunt.

Vincent notes that Darabont’s ending actually hampered the film’s production. As backers weren’t willing to commit to it.

“If he had been willing to compromise and make the ending less bleak, he had investors who were willing to increase the budget significantly,” he explains.

“But – with King’s blessing – he stuck to his guns.”

It’s a good thing too. If anything, The Mist has bettered with age.

Ten years on the CGI may be dated, as you’d expect. But the message remains more powerful than ever.

Read more on i :

Mr Mercedes is the new Stephen King adaptation you need to see

The worst reviews of The Dark Tower

It to the Dark Tower: why the world needs Stephen King right now