Mist....ifying

Rating: 1/10 (3 September 2008)

This movie is a sad example of how someone with zero understanding of the human psyche can wreck what could have been a great film. I'll admit I haven't read the book, so I'm not sure if this adaptation stays true to it. I respect Stephen King, so I'd like to think the similarities are limited to the general overview.
An all pervasive mist conceals a horror within. It's unbelievable, but that's what horror movies are about. Sounds cool right? It could have been, except that the writers decided to make EVERYTHING unbelievable. From the crazy religious nut (who you'd normally cross the road to avoid) managing to convince all but a few of the shops residents to join her in stabbing a security guard and sacrificing him, to a father mercy killing his entire family in fear of the mist horror getting them first, without waiting until danger was truly imminent (at the time the mist horror was nowhere to be seen), or waiting to see if help will maybe come, or waiting any great length of time for anything at all. He just pops em. If you didn't know any better you'd think he was late for an appointment.
A lack of realism is expected with horror movies, but only from certain quarters. When it comes to regular human beings, we just don't do things like mercy whack our entire family until it is absolutely, positively, 1000% necessary. Given the complete inconceivability of someone doing what he did without even the vaguest attempt at finding an alternative, it was the worst ending to a movie I've ever seen.
I'm astonished this movie has gotten the IMDb rating is has. I use this place to preview movies all the time, and this is easily the most over-rated film I've seen here so far. And I'm equally amazed Stephen King let this thing out. The guy is an iconic writer, so I'll just assume they snuck it past him when he was taking a nap.
A lot of people may convince themselves this is good because it's got Stephen Kings name on it, but I can't.