King's THE MIST Finally Going Ahead

[AndyDursin]

I didn't want to see a nice, tidy "happy" ending either. But this ending goes beyond the realm of being a "downer" -- it's downright hateful. Despair and cruelty aren't forms of entertainment for me at least.

Didn't you give positive reviews to Blow Out and A Simple Plan? Those movies have conclusions that make the ending of The Mist seem downright cuddly.

Umm, no, I wouldn't agree with that at all. Sorry. Again, it was all shock value to me. Didn't fit that group of characters, didn't make a whole lot of sense (maybe if it was one of the earlier groups of people in the store, sure, but not the "survivors" as it were), it was unrelentingly cruel and as mean a finish as anything I've ever sat through.

And they needed to cut down Carmody's rantings. We got the point after about 30 seconds. I've read people who walked out because of her scenes and I don't blame them. It was simplistic, one-dimensional stereotyping and saying it was heavy-handed probably is being kind.

Anyway between its pathetic box-office in-take and poisonous word of mouth this movie is about to vanish...into THE MIST!

[Jedbu]

Andy, I couldn't agree with you more. Rented the BD of the film from Blockbuster (Weinstein's exclusive video retailer) and not having seen your previous posts was really looking forward to another Darabont adaptation of King.

Boy, what a f***ed up ending! This is the equivilent of what King went through when his novel "Cujo" first came out and a LOT of his fans castigated him for the way he ended it (as opposed to the happier ending of the film adaptation)-there was no reason whatsoever for the main character to do what he did and he certainly did not do something in the body of the film that made him deserve it. If he had done something horrible to his wife (an affair or some dirty business dealings that caused them financial hardship) or child at the beginning of the story that might have justified the ending, but for the life of me I cannot understand why Darabont did this. The ending of the novella was not perfect but at least it made dramatic sense, and I have to give Darabont credit for one shot that I was really hoping he would pull off-in the story the character tells of watching a creature so incredibly huge that there was no way for him to describe it accurately, and there is a shot of this gargantuan creature in the mist that actually gets it right.

For me, the ending of this film would be like having SHAWSHANK end with Morgan Freeman walking up to Tim Robbins on the beach and either shooting him in the head or performing some sex act on him-it just did not fit the character or the story. The Tom Hanks character in THE GREEN MILE pays a price for "killing one of God's miracles," but this was just plain mean and so off-base. And I even liked a great deal of THE MAJESTIC!

And your feelings about the Harden character were dead on-my wife was even shouting at the screen "would someone just shoot this cow?!" For the budget that he had, Darabont actually made a fairly well-crafted film, and it was nice to see some of his stock company (Bill Sadler, Jeffrey DeMunn) working with him again, but having met the man on a number of occasions and really enjoying chatting with him, I have to admit that I would probably have to tell him that up to the last two minutes he did a great job then he basically s**t on his audience.

No surprise that it disappeared rather quickly from theaters-what a downer!

[Monterey Jack]

[AndyDursin]

My god why.

[Monterey Jack]

My god why.

Flanagan is a gifted filmmaker, but remaking a movie that's not even twenty years old (and is regarded by some -- like me -- to be brilliant) is almost as ridiculous as making the fourth remake of Carrie since 1999. What's next, an eight-episode Prime version of The Shawshank Redemption? Stand By Me updated to the 1980s? Christine as an electric car?

[Eric Paddon]

Christine as an electric car?

In that scenario Christine would be a sympathetic villain forced to murder cruel oil company and traditional auto executives who see her as a "threat".

[AndyDursin]

My god why.

Flanagan is a gifted filmmaker, but remaking a movie that's not even twenty years old (and is regarded by some -- like me -- to be brilliant) is almost as ridiculous as making the fourth remake of Carrie since 1999. What's next, an eight-episode Prime version of The Shawshank Redemption? Stand By Me updated to the 1980s? Christine as an electric car?

That's the thing -- we may disagree on the merits of the Darabont film, but either way, it wasn't a hit -- so why bother remaking it? Especially when they've already done it as a series that nobody watched either? This is the 3rd go-round for this property in less than 2 decades!

Flanagan looks like he's just riding the gravy train here, remaking King properties, making another EXORCIST, etc.

[AndyDursin]

Christine as an electric car?

In that scenario Christine would be a sympathetic villain forced to murder cruel oil company and traditional auto executives who see her as a "threat".

Please don't give them any ideas

[Jedbu]

If they keep the ending of the novel vs. the way Darabont's film ended (which I HATED), I might give it a try.

[AndyDursin]

Its one of the worst, most needless, anti-audience endings I have ever watched and Flanagan would be nuts to repeat it, unless he wants the movie to tank fast just like the original.

[Monterey Jack]

I've argued my point about the ending here many times (look at my annual Halloween marathon reviews for more), and think it's daringly brilliant, but agreed that it destroyed the movie's chance to break out into mainstream success. But then again, last year's The Long Walk (which was every bit as despairing and bleak) tripled its budget at the box office last fall while The Running Man (which cut the balls off of the ending of King's book) tanked, so what do I know?

[AndyDursin]

Well one movie tanked and the other just about did better than break even so we arent talking money there...not on a $60 mil worldwide gross in 2025.

Either way King movies havent been a sure thing even lately what with Dr Sleep a big bomb and Salems Lot a wipeout. I just find it odd The Mist is one of these properties they are so desperate to rehash...why?!?!

[BobaMike]

I just find it odd The Mist is one of these properties they are so desperate to rehash...why?!?!

Maybe they know it can't be any worse, and it would be cheap to make...a couple of fog machines, and you're halfway there!

[Jedbu]

Maybe because it did not do well the first time is the reason they have for a re-do. IMHO, it is the only rock that Darabont has pulled (plus the CGI really SUCKED), despite having a pretty good cast (and many members of the Darabont stock company).