Terry's Reviews Page
Terry reviews the latest Movies, Music and Books

Movies                    Music                    Books

The Mist – Two-Disc Collector’s Edition

Dimension Home Entertainment – 2008

Written For The Screen and Directed by Frank Darabont
Based on a Novella by Stephen King

Starring
Thomas Jane
Marcia Gay Harden
Laurie Holden
Andrew Braugher
Toby Jones

As I was watching THE MIST in the theater back in December, I had the same feeling about the movie that I felt when I saw John Carpenter’s THE THING in the theater in 1982.  I was watching a film that was focused on the people within the film (the characters), while  still having spectacular special FX, nerve wrecking suspense and scary at the same time.  

A small New England town is enveloped by a strange mist that seemingly comes out of nowhere, bringing all sorts of horrific things inside it.  A group of locals get trapped inside a supermarket and must fight creatures and their fears to stay alive.

In the beginning of the film, the poster art for John Carpenter’s THE THING sits in the background.  This isn’t by accident.  The artwork Thomas Jane’s character is supposedly producing is done by the same artist, Drew Struzan, who did that poster.  But I think that in many ways the films are similar and I don’t mean the storylines. 

Frank Darabont’s film starts out from a wide perspective and dwindles down into tighter places, just like how Carpenter had the action unfold in THE THING.  The most potent tension in both films comes from the paranoia stemming from human beings, the monsters are just icing on the cake.  The actors in both films are incredible.  Both films have powerful endings that stay with you long after viewing the movie.  Both are cerebral but sport incredible special FX.  THE MIST even incorporates some of the old style visual effects techniques that were used in THE THING.  Most of this may have been subconscious on Darabont's part but to me the influence is there and I love how the two films are in some ways related.

The cast that Darabont has assembled is nothing short of amazing.  Everybody does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life.  There are so many memorable moments and it all works as good as it does is because of each performance and how Darabont wrote and directed them.

I've liked Thomas Jane since DEEP BLUE SEA.  After seeing him in that film I was convinced that he was an action star.  In THE MIST, Jane brings some subtlety and thoughtfulness to his physicality.  He is darn likable and believable as David Drayton, a father and husband.  Marcia Gay Harden is unforgettable as Mrs. Carmody.  She does an amazing job of playing a character that is pretty much over the top, but skillfully keeps her rooted to so she's not someone you'd laugh at.  Laurie Holden has got my attention since SILENT HILL.  There is something about her as Amanda Dunfrey that really stands out.  Andrew Braugher brings his qualities to the movie. English actor Toby Jones is so darn good as Ollie Weeks, that in some ways he steals the movie out from the bigger stars.

Darabont and his casting director have put together an impressive collection of character actors like William Sadler, Jeffrey DeMunn, Frances Sternhagen, Nathan Gamble, Alexa Davalos, Chris Owen, Sam Witwer, Robert C. Treveiler and David Jensen.

Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger's Creature Design & Makeup Effects combined with Cafe FX Visual FX makes for special effects marriage made in heaven.  The two companies work hand and hand producing work that is flawlessly incorporated within the film blending with the story.

Director of Photography Rohn Schmidt does a wonderful job capturing the images with his light and lens.  His two camera operators should win some kind of award for their work.  Mark Isham's music might not be too noticeable but it's invaluable in helping set the mood and underlining the film.

Dimension Home Video had done a marvelous job of assembling two discs each special in their own way.

 Disc 1 Includes the Feature Film with Commentary by Writer/Director Frank Darabont.  In his comments Darabont speaks highly of his cast & crew and relates how he shoot the film in a much different style than anything he's done before.  The film was made for a low-budget and shorter shooting schedule.  Stylistically he used handheld cameras versus his normal painterly slow dolly & crane shots.  There is also Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary.  None of these scenes are terrible, but they would not have advanced the film, slowed down pacing so I can see why they were cut.  It's always fun to see what else was shot even if not used.  Drew Struzan: An Appreciation of an Artist gives us a chance to learn of the artist's amazing artistic ability and see some of the work we've all seen before.  ET, STAR WARS, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, John Carpenter's THE THING, BLADE RUNNER and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION are just a few of the many movie posters he's designed.  Struzan says that in order to put power & beauty into a movie poster, he has to find it in the movie.  Behind-The-Scenes Webisodes and Trailer Gallery round out the first disc.

Disc 2 Frank Darabont introduces The Mist in Black & White.  Like I said before, I saw THE MIST in the theater but The Director's Version: The complete Feature Film in Black & White is even better.  The effects, the overall feel all are heightened by the different shades of greyscale within the black & white photography. Frank Darabont was right to want the movie to go out this way, but I guess the studio was unsure if the audience would go for it.  Either way, I'm happy they released the movie the way it should be seen on this DVD.  When Darkness Came: The Making of The Mist is exactly what I hope for in the behind the scenes doc.  All ground of how it all came together, the physical production and after thoughts are all put into one doc. If you enjoyed this film, I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.  Taming the Beast: The Making of Scene 35 is a look at how the awesome action sequence in the store was done.  Monsters Among Us: A Look at the Creature FX give Nicotero & Berger the opportunity to discuss their work.  Cafe FX artists get the platform to voice what they did in The Horror of It All: The Visual FX of The Mist.

THE MIST is one of the ten best movies I've ever seen.

www.themist-movie.com

www.weinsteinco.com