Darabont... what the hell?

Rating: 4/10 (17 September 2012)

I'm not against tragedy, but I am against idiotic character turns. They have proved themselves savvy survivors throughout the entire film. Then I am supposed to believe they give up and shoot themselves? They never try to get any gas? I feel like the ending was an abrupt surrender to find an end to a generally overlong film. It's sad that a 5 minute ending can ruin an otherwise good horror movie, but it does it so effectively by destroying respect for someone that has been built up as heroic. You might argue that the turn has a purpose. Maybe the sight of his wife tipped him over the edge. But at least make that clear. He's fighting for his son for days, then shoots him. That is just dumb. It's also not King's intention. In the book, they actually do get more gas. It makes me angry that I wasted my time on these characters... and sad that Darabont wasted his.