Directed by Frank Darabont
Review based upon the unrated US DVD release
Not quite the best horror movie of 2007 (that honour, for me, has to go to "The Signal"), but frankly this is pretty damn close.
Review based upon the unrated US DVD release
Not quite the best horror movie of 2007 (that honour, for me, has to go to "The Signal"), but frankly this is pretty damn close.
"The Majestic" aside, Frank Darabont's movies have always interested and intrigued me. Stylish, slick and well written observational dialogue are present and correct in everything in his canon. Clearly a technical and precise filmmaker, Darabont took "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile" (also both Stephen King adaptations) and gave them soul; characterisations are probably what he does best.
The thing is, how can he really do this in what is in essence a big budget B-Movie with monsters?
Well, he can, and he does. In the most part, anyway.
Sure, some of the dialogue is a bit wooden at points, but ultima
tely the characters are believable and real, with reactions very convincing for the most part. Horror stereotypes (religious nutter, gung-ho hero, child at-peril) are all present and correct, but painted on a new post 9-11 canvas that really adds a new dimension to the mix.
tely the characters are believable and real, with reactions very convincing for the most part. Horror stereotypes (religious nutter, gung-ho hero, child at-peril) are all present and correct, but painted on a new post 9-11 canvas that really adds a new dimension to the mix.The monsters are truly grim and unpleasant, and whilst the initial reveal is a little unconvincing (the CGI looks rushed in those early scenes, especially), the later encounters are much more engaging and suitably unpleasant.
Darabont shoots the whole thing in a pseudo-documentary style which is wholly involving (the long hand-held shots in the store are particularly realistic). He also makes interesting use of symbolic imagery, indicating a writer/director who is genuinely angry at the USA and it's government, and i
s certainly far removed from his earlier work in "The Shawshank Redemption".
As for the ending... well, it worked for me. The fact is, it takes someone with real courage to conclude a two hour journey in this way. However, Darabont doesn't just do this for cheap thrills, and the result is a political punch that will stay with you long after the movie ends. "The Mist" is a brave and intelligent piece of cinema that deserves to stand proudly alongside the director's other work. This is one of the best movies of its type I've seen in many years. I'll be very interested to see what Darabont has up his sleeve next...
s certainly far removed from his earlier work in "The Shawshank Redemption".7.5 out of 10
A great, dark monster movie... with a real sucker-punch ending
