What a horror movie is supposed to be, with a shocking ending for good measure.

Rating: 10/10 (20 October 2008)

Based on the short story by Stephen King, and directed by the Frank Darabont, who is proving quite successful at bringing King's stories to the big screen (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile), this horror movie is a refreshing addition to a genre which lately has been bombarded with "torture porn"-styled gore flicks. Besides being a scary thrill-ride, there's a serious undertone running through the film, about how we as normal people can become dangerous when faced with dire situations.
A close-knit community of friends and neighbours barricade themselves in a grocery store once a mysterious mist descends on their small town. Their first fear is a terrorist chemical weapon, but soon they realize that concealed in the mist is a vast array of creatures. Some small, others gigantic. Creatures who all have one thing in common: wanting to feast on the humans inside. It soon becomes a battle of wills against not only keeping the creatures out, but also trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy against the rising panic and fear inside the supermarket, especially once a Bible-thumping woman starts spouting that she "hears messages from God" and this is His wrath. Once she starts getting survivors to listen and follow her, it's only a matter of time before the people inside have to choose a side.
What sets this horror film apart as one of the best in years is the constant uneasy sense of dread, a quality that has made Stephen King a master storyteller, and which goes a long way to show that you don't always need blood and guts to keep an audience on edge. In fact, the masterful direction ensures that the jump-out-of-your-seat moments are guaranteed, and the brilliant creature effects are bound to keep you squirming.
The performances are all excellent, and unusually for this genre there is a lot of character development, and the best performance comes from Marcia Gay Harden, who plays the maniacal Mrs. Carmody - determined to make everyone see the error of their ways and "convert" to God's teaching. She soon becomes a dangerous woman, which has far-reaching consequences for everyone.
The shocking ending will be a talking point for many, and even though it is altered from King's original novella, I believe this ending works better. It will also keep you thinking about it for days.