Basically an okay horror flick

Rating: 6/10 (24 December 2015)

Well, the last ten comments are all over the map. I come down in the middle. I did read the Stephen King novella, which is the source material for this film, many years ago. It was gripping, like all of his work, whether you are into the horror genre or not. The biggest difference, aside from the ending, is that in the King work, the characters never see whatever is in the mist, only the results. The mist is otherworldly thick and opaque, more than just thick fog. And they never get the slightest clue as to where it came from. As far as this film, there were some excellent acting performances by Andre Braugher and Laurie Holden. Also by Marcia Gay Harden in a role that Ebert called "unplayable". The film could have benefited a lot with a better actor than Thomas Jane playing the lead. It is basically an okay horror flick, but, as usual, not nearly as good as the King story it is based on, which I realize is not always a fair criticism comparing separate media. The ending is quite powerful.