Disappointed In The Ending

Rating: 3/10 (18 November 2008)

I just saw this movie for the first time and thought the ending was a let down. I didn't dislike it because it was shocking. I'm a fan of shock endings. I like surprises. I don't want movie endings to be all fluffy and happy. What I didn't like about the ending of this movie was that it didn't make any sense with what had gone on previously in the film. It seemed created purely to shock people.
It wasn't their only option.
They must have driven past dozens of gas stations where they could have got more fuel, supermarkets etc where they could have got supplies or hotels where they could have got shelter. There was a risk of the monsters attacking sure but they made it to the car so there was a good shot they'd have made it inside a gas station/hotel/supermarket.
Driving around until the gas ran out was pointless. There was no point in leaving the supermarket if that had been their intention. They'd have been better of being sheltered there and shutting up Mrs Carmody than embarking on the stupid thing they did. Waste of time getting into the car in the first place.
I can't understand David shooting his son. That makes no sense to me. It goes against everything a parent and David tried to do for the rest of the film. I have no children but this jarred with me. He spent the whole movie protecting his son especially from Mrs Carmody then puts a bullet in his brain. Uh-huh. If I had a child I'd shoot myself before harming a hair on their head. I just can't buy or accept a parent doing this unless they're not right in the head.
I thought it was really pathetic that seconds after David killed everyone the army magically turn up with their big trucks and the mist disappears. What a load of rubbish. Why didn't they hear the trucks? No matter how scared they were a truck would sound nothing like the monsters. Why didn't they notice the mist fading? Maybe they were blind as well as stupid.
I felt the ending was purposefully created to shock people. It had no connection to the rest of the movie. It made fun of the two hours leading up to it.
I like shock endings when they are logical or at least understandable. This was neither. I'm a huge fan of Stephen King and usually like movie adaptations but this made me feel insulted. I expected better. I won't watch it again. Total let down.
Now, I would have been happy with the whole shooting thing if we had been shown there was no hope or other option. If they couldn't have got gas/food or shelter anywhere else. If the army hadn't turned up. I just felt like the director was making faces at me. Not amusing. Shame on Frank Darabont who's done a good good with other King adaptations.