"Misty"

Rating: 8/10 (23 October 2012)

Wow. What a movie. I had never seen this one when it came out in 2007 so it was a treat to finally see it in 2012. I've begun to watch a lot of Frank Darabont stuff lately; 'The Walking Dead, The Green Mile, ...ect...
It was a funny treat to me and I'm guessing for 'Walking Dead' fans also, to see many of the cast of that series on this film! But then it should not come as to no surprise as Darabont like to use people he has worked with often. Another thing is that this film was done in 2007. WD in 2010. So it's really unfair to compare but it's fun nonetheless. Like the scene were Laurie Holden and Jeffrey DeMunn are standing side by side and talking about a gun, it's funny to me because here they act clueless about it yet on WD Laurie's character, 'Andrea' , is the best shot they have!! Priceless! Anyways, on about The Mist. Thomas Jane, who to me looks like a more gentle-looking Christopher Lambert, did an OK job. It now makes me wonder how he would have handle the 'Rick Grimes' character of 'The Walking Dead instead of Andrew Lincoln. maybe he could show up later as Rick's long-lost brother or something.
Marcia Gay Harden plays the religious-fanatic loony Mrs. Carmody. What is truly scary is that there are people like that in real life! I found it ironic that when she got killed, she was laying in the position like of Jesus on the cross.
Laurie Holden (Andrea of WD) had a OK role as the new teacher in town and playing surrogate mother to Jane's kid. There's a hint of mutual attraction between her and Jane's character but , they are both married and just keep it to looks.
Andre Braugher payed his role rather well as Jane's neighbor, 'Brent Norton'. A disbeliever who feels out of place in this hick town and has a hard time believing anyone but himself. Too bad we are never sure what happens to him and the crew he took with him. They just disappeared into the Mist .
Toby Jones was my favorite. playing one the employees of the supermarket. i liked how even though small in stature , he stood tall and brave. I especially liked him shooting the religious nut-case Mrs. Carmody. But then that's wrong because just because someone completely believes in their own religion or faith doesn't make them bad. but maybe dangerous. Her death by Toby's 'Ollie' Makes a statement on how easily some people are manipulated and coursed to do things they normally would not do. I believe Stephen King was making a big statement about religion. But then again, Jesus was crucified and killed for being a "religious fanatic' to some and people were shocked to see how many followed Him. Just like in a way the people in the store started following Mrs.Carmody.
William Sadler, one of my favorite actors, to me played a wussy role at first. It was so out of context as I'm used to seeing him play more characters with more panache. In the end though he started to come to life as a follower of Mrs. Carmody.
Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale from WD) was OK a the man who 1st says there is something in The Mist. Frances Sternhagen was a hoot as the old lady ready to hit Mrs. Carmody with pea cans! Sexy Alexa Davalos was just a pretty check-out cashier who ends up getting stung by a alien hybrid wasp-like creature and dies a painful death. Her would-be boyfriend military Sam Witwer(another WD member:He was the soldier zombie in the tank on the very 1st episode!)who also dies a painful death, because the people are scared and believe the military is guilty because Mrs, Carmody says so, therefore is 'punished' and 'sacrificed '. Melissa McBride(WD's Carol)basically plays a eerily character she would somewhat play exactly on The Walking Dead! Brian Libby,another one of my favorite, plays a biker dude who is brave but that doesn't make a difference in The Mist. Brian is one of Darabonts favorites also because he uses him in all his films! And last but not least, Juan Gabriel Pareja(another WD member Morales) plays a character also named 'Morales' also!! He is a military guy who doesn't have much to do and his big scene is committing suicide off-camera.