More about human horrors than the supernatural...

Rating: 8/10 (7 November 2010)

While I'm not the biggest fan of Stephen King's writings, several movie adaptations of his works can be counted among my favorites. The Shining, Carrie, and Stand By Me all deliver on character depth and story. While the same holds true for Frank Darabont's adaptation of The Mist, it does not shine (sorry) quite the same as those classics.
As the tag-lines and other movie materials suggest, the film focuses more heavily on the horrors of humanity inside than the monsters outside the windows. Considering how little the film relies on generic archetypes, we are surprisingly allowed thorough opportunity to identify the various major characters and their roles in the story. While there are but a few unexpected developments in the relationships between the characters, it's the unrestrained demonstrations of the devolution of humanity that make this film interesting. As the story continues and tensions grow, we become just as concerned about the characters as we are about the story itself.
While the leading actor, Thomas Jane, certainly disappoints in his attempts to come across as...a human being, Laurie Holden and various supporting cast members make up for it. Much attention is lavished (and rightly so) upon Marcia Gay Harden's role as the religious zealot-cum-cult leader, Toby Jones has to be noted for his stand-out performance. Based on his body-type and initial demeanor, many would expect him to play the underdog role. However, he plays the character with an in-control, take-charge attitude from the start, never having to come from behind, while still maintaining a very approachable, caring personality.
Practical effects and visceral monsters are the responsibility of Greg Nicotero and KNB Efx, and perhaps they should have been relied upon more heavily, as opposed to turning to CGI. CGI is always (to me) a disappointing element in every film that contains it, however, I must note that I was surprised to learn that certain elements which I thought to be physical items, were actually CGI accents on the dressed sets.
The music serves its purpose in the film, supporting the growing paranoia and fear, but it doesn't really stand out or draw any kind of notice. The camera work becomes looser and more ragged as the story develops, effectively mimicking the emotional and mental duress of the characters.
In short, people go crazy, monsters are scary, Thomas Jane is possibly a robot in real life, and this isn't a bad option for spending a couple of hours of your life.
Oh yeah, no spoiler, but the ending was more satisfying than I could have possibly hoped.