Amateurish and overwrought

Rating: 4/10 (17 April 2008)

This is one of the most overrated films of the year, and it's certainly not one of the best horrors of any timeframe. The creature designs are cool, and I guess the acting is fine enough, but the whole thing looks really shoddily put together. Aside from that great, atmospheric opening shot (loved the nod to The Thing), the camera work is really amateurish and made-for-TV (not surprising, considering they used a TV crew). Darabont should have either gone for a really raw, documentary feel (a la Cloverfield) or a painterly, stylish look, not some half-hearted hybrid. Plus the special effects are pretty bad.
It also doesn't help that the characterizations are terribly one-note and not convincing at all. Instead of real people, we're stuck with some stock stereotypes and unbelievable characters, so there's no sense of emotion when any of them die. Marcia Gay Harden couldn't have been any more one-sided if she tried. And the film's message is hammered home with such force that I'm surprised they didn't start invoking Lord of the Flies near the end.
I spoiled myself on the ending, so it really didn't shock me like it should (or could) have, but I really didn't find it effective regardless. It's rushed, it's silly, and it turns borderline hilarious with Thomas Jane's anguished screams. Best horror ending, I think not.
Save your time (and money) and go watch The Shining again.