The Mist

[jayesse8 0]

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS (?) for those who have not yet seen the film.***

And if so, crawl out from under that rock and rent or buy it already!

 

I saw the black & white version, and it is a different movie for me. I love them both, although I actually prefer the color version. It felt easier for me "to see" most of the details of the film, something about either my eyesight or my not-so-great television but I do appreciate both versions.

 

The CGI tentacles can be considered better obscured within the b & w, but the CGI did not concern me during the color version either - I was always so engrossed in the story or the moment, that it never took me out of it. However, the pharmacy scene was MUCH scarier for me after this viewing. I mean I watched it late at night and was spooked by a dark bedroom! Something about acidic gossamer webbing and anthropomorphic, hostile, alien arachnids is wonderfully enhanced by the black & white experience. Ooh, I'm shuddering even now, as I type.

 

For me, the moments most enhanced emotionally by the b & w are the last 20-30 minutes, with the haunting requiem and the Land Cruiser's lights circling, like a priest circling a congregation with incense and candles ... so haunting, depressing and yet elevating at the same time - do you feel yourself breathing for a moment, after so much of the film? I do - my soul and lungs expand with The Host of Seraphim, only to be crushed emotionally and viscerally, as and when David is.

 

I felt that even during the color version, but the b & w really took it to a whole other spiritual level. I love Byzantine music and chanting, so I found that song truly engaging and also narratively perfect for the film's conclusion - a haunting that I willfully embrace.

[Tim Bradstreet 0]

Great response Jayesse8 -

I agree with a lot of what you are saying about the black and white version.

I see how it can get better as the film goes along. For me I was immersed from the beginning.

 

I think a few factors to consider for why people may not embrace the B+W version is that because the film was released in - and already exists in color, it's hard for certain people to access the devolving into B+W. To them it's cheap and old and they aren't taking into consideration the aesthetic, or the impact which the more stark vision presents. Sure, it's more subtle in ways too, that's why I love it. Most people just want to be entertained and color is their preferred medium. B+W is considered a step down where the masses are concerned.

Whatever, then watch what you prefer. I for one am glad Darabont had the studio go to the trouble of offering both looks. Frank is one of those guys who never takes an audience for granted, and he hates dumbing down anything for the sake of formula. He was adamant about the black and white version being offered - yes, for personal reasons of vision, but also because as a fan himself he wanted to share that vision with those who would embrace the original concept. I'll bet there are more than a few studios who would have denied him and us of that, but Frank knows how to pick his battles. Bless that man.

 

Everyone knows how Tom gets compared to stars of yesteryear like Gary Cooper and Steve McQueen . . . Well to me that has even more relevance while watching the black and white version. The film takes on a whole different patina when viewed like a film that could have been on screens in the early 60's - With post Peckinpah tone. It's fucking legit.

 

- TB

[Mike V 0]

Yeah, it's great Darabont was able to put out the black and white version. It just makes the film better some how.

 

To get a little off topic, someone really needs to put out the Fade to Black and White Version o Lady Vengeance. I'm really interested in seeing that, as the movie goes along the color just starts to fade until the end where it's just black and white.

[Parker 0]

Parker, Murphy -

I wanted to take a moment and applaud you both for taking the high ground so quickly in what could have been some potential ugliness.

When someone has a bit of venom in their heart it's easy to step up, be insulted, and take it up another notch.

The true "stepping up" was Parker's quick apology. That right there is the easiest was to diffuse another tired online pissing match

That's what a MAN does, takes responsibility. And big thanks to Murphy for being such a gent.

 

I hope everyone on the forum takes note.

 

Well done.

 

- TB

 

Thank you sir, you are far too kind. i only did what i felt was right, and i feel Murphy and i developed a cool dialogue because of our interaction. i would like to consider him a friend now. And i should admit, this is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me, outside of my wife. It sincerely means a lot--thank you.

 

And i also would like to extend a big thank you to Murphy for being such a gent, and having some patience with me.

[Murphy 0]

Awww shucks, you guy'll make me blush if you're not careful

Cheers Parker and Tim, I think you guys are cool too :-)

[jayesse8 0]

Great response Jayesse8 -

I agree with a lot of what you are saying about the black and white version.

I see how it can get better as the film goes along. For me I was immersed from the beginning.

...

- TB

 

Thank you, Tim.

 

Film dork that I am, I listened to Frank Darabont's commentary, watched the introduction to the b & w film and all the featurettes on the DVD - and came away completely impressed by his intelligence, enthusiasm, energy, and humor. (I admit it! I now have a huge creative crush on Frank Darabont!)

 

I agree with his desire for the b & w to be more evocative of a 50s/60s moody, spooky horror movie, while the color version for me still felt like a late 60s/70s post-apocalyptic wasteland toned film because of the unapologetically ironic ending. It is a marvel (no pun intended ) that the film, as filmed, works both ways, without alteration - a truly astonishing accomplishment. Kudos to Mr. Darabont, most definitely.

 

And as for the man, Jane - well, you know I think he's pretty legit, as is but I definitely know what you mean about the post-Peckinpah tones of the film in b & w. Funny, I looked it up, and his birthday is only one day before Thomas Jane's.

 

[Murphy 0]

Some kudos for The Mist from Empire Magazine (the best movie magazine in the United Kingdom and Ireland). They've picked The Mist as one of the 50 films you must see from 2008 (as it was released over here in 2008 for some reason that has always escaped me) in their review of the year.

 

"The Mist

Frank Darabont's third Stephen King feature is debatedly the year's best thriller - B movie chills with A-list craft and intelligence"

Defining moment: The most powerful ending of the year bar none"

[Tim Bradstreet 0]

That's awesome.

Hats off to Empire and the UK fans.

 

- TB

[Mike V 0]

I'd say Empire is the best movie magazine period. It's worth every penny of the $10.00 it costs at Barnes $ Noble.

[Murphy 0]

Yeah, Empire is a great magazine, but it sucks for the State Side readers that usually by the time something is released in Europe (and Empire can print their reviews) most movies have already been and gone in the U.S.

Empire's original 'The Mist' review can be found here if anyone is interested.

[jayesse8 0]

Thanks, Murphy!

 

Criminally overlooked in the States, this is one of the best horror movies of the last few years.

 

Amen!

 

[kwiat_skye 0]

I finally got around to watching the black & white version tonight. I thought it made everything seem more claustrophobic.

[rkacsandy 0]

That is one fucked up ending, I loved it! The Mist is one of my favorite stories and the movie takes it one step further. Very bold.

[Syvell 0]

Great ending, I was totally gobsmacked!

 

I knew the story didn't have that ending originally and somehow I thought they should have left the ending like it was in the story. But that film ending made the whole thing far more shocking.

 

The film totally blew me away!

 

We watched it on DVD in colour and then straight afterwards, we watched the black and white version. Both excellent.

I couldn't get the music out of my head for days.

 

[rkacsandy 0]

I just watched the black and white version and I think it makes for a different experience, even better in my opinion.

[mediumfan 0]

I got to thinking about this film today, and it occurred to me that if a movie ending ever cried out for a sequel, it was definitely this one. But this is one ending that shouldn't be messed with. A sequel could never do that ending justice. But I have often wondered what might have happened to David Drayton afterwards.

 

The way I see it, there are three possible alternatives for what might have happened later. This is all purely speculation as to what might have happened.

 

1) Unable to accept what he has done, he goes berserk and wrestles a gun from one of the soldiers and either kills himself, or is killed by the soldiers.

 

2) In a perverse society (maybe even a Stephen King version of society), after order is restored, he is arrested and charged with the murders and is sentenced to life in prison ( perhaps in a Shawshank Redemption/Green Mile-esque sort of place).

 

3) He loses his mind and is locked up in an insane asylum, where he spends the rest of his days battling giant alien mosquitos, flesh-eating spiders, and gigantic tentacled monsters that only he can see. (Again, maybe in some Stephen King version of an asylum, right? )

 

I am not advocating a sequel here, mind you. As I said, that ending stands alone, and should never be messed with. It's cinematic history, pure genius.

 

But have you ever wondered what happened after the tanks rolled by and the smoke finally cleared, and David's screams stopped?

 

Or do you think they ever stopped?

[sidewaysgaze 0]

Here's a current review of The Mist from Fangoria:

 

"Thomas Jane delivered a solid performance as David Drayton, the films feature character. Jane was required to explore just about every emotion imaginable..."

 

 

http://www.fangoria.com/reviews/3-dvd-a-bl...d-the-mist.html

 

 

 

Jen

[sidewaysgaze 0]

The Mist review:

 

"Like many episodes of The Twilight Zone, the film uses the monsters as a way to analyze human nature. It mostly focuses on on how quick we turn on each other in a panic."

 

http://www.examiner.com/x-4886-Stephen-Kin...9m7d24-The-Mist

[sidewaysgaze 0]

Amazingly detailed plot structure and theme breakdown of THe Mist; Huge Plot Spoilers, obviously... :

 

http://thedarksalon.blogspot.com/2009/08/m...-breakdown.html

 

 

Jen

[xNLx 0]

So, I was looking at the wikipedia page for The Mist, and besides seeing that Norton's character was falsely listed as being the MP in the pharmacy, I saw that the movie is listed as a B-movie (on the discussion page at least).

 

That's sort of fair, since it is in ways a throw back to the old horror flicks and using suspense to dish out the scares (instead of gore). But it got me wondering, what the hell is an A-list horror movie? Surely it can't be the terrible remakes of 80's classics or the murder porn that takes up the October release schedule now.

 

To me, The Mist is an A-List movie disguised as a B-Lister.

 

And Jen, that plot breakdown is amazing. Now I know what I'll be watching tonight.

[kdedu 0]

To me, The Mist is an A-List movie disguised as a B-Lister.

Couldn't agree w/ you more. You're cruzing along enjoying some light fare & then *BAM* you're in the deep end. Reminds me of some stuff I used to smoke back in the day!! "Sleeeeper, dude"

[tsvety 0]

I had read the novel before I saw the movie and the movie end is much better. I wonder if any one has seen that woman in one of the trucks with the rescued people in them - the woman Drayon and the others refused to help. She went out into the mist straight to the monsters without any car or gun or anything at all and somehow she managed to save her child when everybody else failed. That was an irony indeed especially compared to Drayton at that moment when she was going past him.

[Rosella 0]

I really loved the film The Mist. I actually saw the movie first and then had to go back and read the book. Actually, the book came free with the DVD, so I just sort of read it to see how Stephen King intended it to be. In my opinion, the movie is definitely better than the book. No offense to Stephen King. He truly knows how to write, but I gotta admit that I didn't like the ending in the book. It was okay; however, the movie's ending was perfect. I'm a person who likes unpredictable endings, and the one in The Mist movie is one of my favorites.

 

Some stories need to have a happy ending, but I didn't feel that that kind would justify The Mist. The movie's ending had a lesson in a way. One should not be aloud to choose another person's fate. I really like that about the movie's ending. It was ironic, and who doesn't love a little irony?

[Padre 0]

This was one my favourite films of last year. Its just works. The acting, the direction, the music. Everything. Its one of the few Stephen King adaptations that improves on the original story. And the ending is one of the most haunting piece of cinema I've ever seen. I'll always remember the faces of the people in the cinema as they left. Everyone looked like they'd been kicked in the balls by the ending.

[Padre 0]

Just got this on dvd. The one disc edition was going cheap, and with cash the way it is the pricey two discer is out of reach for now . The film really embodies whats best in the genre. The script and direction are solid. The ensemble cast is fantastic. The creatures are actually scary, cgi or not. And again, the ending. The impact is second to none. And listening to Darabonts commentary when he talks about how maybe David's "sacrifice" at the end did make the mist disappear and maybe Mrs Carmody's talk was right all along makes for another interesting layer to the film.

 

P.S. Between this and Silent Hill, Laurie Holden really has no luck with monster infested fog.