I've got plenty of Peas

Rating: 6/10 (24 November 2007)

Greetings again from the darkness. With the greatness of "Shawshank Redemption" on his resume, writer/director Frank Darabont's name will forever be associated with film greatness. Hooking up again with a Stephen King ("The Green Mile") story, Darabont takes aim at the monster/creature/sci-fi films of the 50's and 60's (think "The Blob" not "The Fog"). While this one has significant human nature editorializing, the actual frights are few and far between because mostly what we see are some stupid looking bugs that can be killed with a mop handle.
The hero is Thomas Jane ("The Punisher") and a couple of his nemesis are played here by Andre Braugher ("Homicide") and a scene-chewing Marcia Gay Harden as the religious fanatic, who seizes her moment on the mountain top. Also joining in the food store fun is Laurie Holden, who spends most of the film taking care of Jane's wimpy son, William Sadler as a total buffoon, and Alexa Davalos (very good in "Feast of Love") who demonstrates what the bugs are capable of.
The two best performances are from Toby Jones ("Infamous") as the sharp tongued, sharp-shooting grocery clerk and the great Frances Sternhagen, whose character could make a fine little film unto herself. Of course, this film is not about the acting ... it is about the frightening monsters in the mist. Exploring the fear of the unknown, the effects of trauma and stress and expediency at which the religious fanatics seize on weakness. And yes, this is 2007, so there is a story line that bashes the military. I believe a similar type story line exists in 83% of films released this year.
While not the best work from King or Darabont, it is a satisfactory monster movie that pretends to look deeper, but is actually pretty shallow.