Based on the Stephen King novella, "The Mist" takes place inside a small Maine town and a super market full of fearful onlookers, as a mysterious mist consumes the landscape.

Heralded as one of King's best work, "The Mist" is an awe inspiring tale of the human condition through unspeakable diversity and sheer terror. The story's Mrs. Carmody truly proves to be the real antagonist, as she attempts and succeeds in converting many of the inhabitants of the market after several people die at the hands of the beasts lurking outside. "The Mist" is really a social commentary on how we as a species deal with fear, and the greatest fear being that of our own mortality.

There is just something about Frank Darabont. He knows unequivocally how to bring a Stephen King story to the screen. Whether it's telling an inspiring tale in "The Shawshank Redemption" or a tragic story in "The Green Mile," it would appear that Darabont and King share the same diligent ideology. That is, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

However, there are some liberties taken in Darabont's version, particularly the shocking ending which I personally did not see coming. Not that I'm complaining. Let's just say that patience is a vertue not held by our central protagonist, and I'll leave it at that. It will hopefully make you smile with a deviant glimmer in thine eye, specifically if you share the same thought as I do when it comes to the horror genre. There are NO happy endings. Those are left for Disney kiddy flicks.

The special effects are not the best, but the acting makes up for it. Thomas Jane takes on his best role to date and pulls it off with flying colors (no offense to all you Punisher fans). The actress who steals the show however, is Academy Award Winner Marcia Gay Harden and her portrayal of the zealot Mrs. Carmody. Her bible thumping, holier than though maneuvering brought the character to screen and then some, despite the fact that Carmody played a much smaller role in the novella. Kudos yet again to Darabont.

At its core, this film is a monster movie that plays like a Romero zombie film. There are layers to be found, if the audience pays attention. Darabont's final thought appears to be that of a political/military agenda, specifically how the US may not always be in the right (i.e. the war in Iraq). The dose is not heavy, so there are no Carmody moments there. However, the film is an obvious shot at GOP members everywhere, specifically the Christian Right.

"The Mist" took twenty plus years to make the medium leap. It was well worth the wait.

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