DVD Reviews

The Mist

• Rating:
• Director: Frank Darabont
• Starring: Andre Braugher
• Details: US / 126mins (16)

Playing like the small town relative of Cloverfield, The Mist is entirely more conventional in its execution, but no less effective. Adapted and directed by Shawshank Redemption helmer Darabont from another Stephen King novel, it's almost relentlessly bleak stuff. Our protagonist is local artist David Drayton (Jane) a loving father and intense man of action. The night after a bad storm hits his town, an ominous mist descends from a secretive military base with a nasty surprise hidden within. Before long, the townsfolk are being picked off, and Drayton must hole-up in a local supermarket along with his young son and some other anxious survivors - but he soon realises that just as much danger can lie within the doors as outside. It's great to see a proper horror film, filled with capable actors and a talented director who clearly loves the source material. Darabont has mostly stuck to the book's claustrophobic atmosphere, and allowed his cast do their job. There's no emo soundtrack, no cliched bad guys or dead gothic Asian broads looking for revenge; just a bunch of ravenous monsters and some terrified victims. Like a lot of genre films from smart directors there is subtext galore, most of it addressing stuff like fear mongering, and the war on terror; but this is primarily a tribute to old fashioned B-movies, with the shocks turned up to 11. Former action star Jane is excellent as the pragmatic core, while Gay Harden revels in playing the nutcase evangelist, hungry for power. Darabont meanwhile, manages to create as much tension inside the supermarket as he does when people are venturing outside - slowly immersing us in the horrific situation. Sure, it's fifteen minutes too long and some of the effects are slightly ropey - but given the ending they've gotten away with, it's no surprise that the budget isn't huge. This is still a theatrical horror film with balls, and we haven't seen one of those for a long time.

Review by Mike Sheridan