A memorable, suspenseful horror with an distressing ending that stays and left me horrified - it affected my very being.

Rating: Null/10 (10 July 2008)

Acting: Well played by all, with no noticeably weak performers. Standout actors are the nut case fundamentalist 'Christian' woman, Toby Jones and the atheist man suddenly turned to God.
Pacing: Pretty tight, with fade outs to black in between each of the scenes give it a reflective effect. The novella I've never read, but the script has it's few witty, laugh-out-loud lines amidst the horror. It delivers real, genuine jumps and scares and parts I was very squeamish in. This, in my opinion, is what in terms of horror, Cloverfield looks up to and admires, but can never be half as good as. That hyped up monster film only wishes it was this effective and more. A sort of Lord Of The Flies in a small town supermarket, as a makeshift fort against the terrors lurking outside and what happens as people seem to follow things and what one particular woman says that they normally wouldn't give time of day to. As said in the film, people can do abnormal things if you scare them enough
Cinematography: Well, the special effects were very good. The weird large insects and mysterious tentacles did scare and unsettle me so they did they job effectively, where other means couldn't have been used. Gory deaths  one particular one happens more off screen are chilling. The Mist itself has a foreboding power to it that's is captured well on film  that uncertainty of what's a few feet in front of a person is well realised. It rakes up tension with expertise.
Music: I think their were these apocalyptic type choir songs nearer the end that were very good and the score is probably my stand out this year, just in terms of how it really adds to the film and more.
Overall: I was frozen in my screening seat with an expression of horror-struck unbelievably and I'm sure I looked very worried  I couldn't move for some moments. It is hard to explain but I couldn't cry cause it was if all my emotion was sucked out of me and I could only stare into space. It is simply the most depressing ending I've seen so far since Requiem For A Dream & When The Wind Blows  no, actually it's worse that both of those. Talk about feeling like all hope in the world is lost and left in despair. All good memories are gone for those moments walking home to catch my bus, and I felt empty. Both religion and science are questioned - I think it's more about obvious worries shown about fundamentalist cults and the dangers unhinged members can pose on the rest of a venerable society as well as the consequences of science experimenting and exploring into unknown realms. It's a powerful film, that leaves me with inner-moral questions and just delivers on the level of scares and horror. Good characterisation, plot and some brilliant turns from the actors really put a lasting effect in my mind. Even if this lacks the feel goodness Shawshank had, it's in ways more powerful. I've never felt so bad and bleak emotionally after seeing any film this year, so kudos to Darabont for staying with this thoroughly dark conclusion to another of his King's adaptations