Given the division between the urban out-of-towners and the rural locals, The Mist is ripe with several thought provoking questions on class and religion. However, the messages soon become too preachy for a film that obviously can’t (and shouldn’t) take itself too seriously even though it is limited by its source material It’s no secret that Darabont takes issue with the current state and possible fate of humanity at large, but the film’s social reflection feels out of step with the immediacy of the extraordinary unfolding around the characters. With giant flies and Pterodactyl type creatures flying around the room, it’s tough to listen to someone give a sermon on the evils of God and politics. However, Darabont’s attempt deserves praise on several levels since Marcia Gay Harden’s character becomes nothing more than an unbearable one-dimensional bible spewing Revelationist that makes you question what’s worse - the threat of the creatures lurking in the mist or the threat of the religious zealot in front of you. It’s a smart and very real thread that evolves in a teeth-clenching but clever manner.

A Shot at Final Redemption:

To Frank Darabont’s credit, the ending of the film is where we finally see the magnitude of his talents and his unique ability to handle King material come to fruition. Unfortunately, it comes much too late to save the entire film but it will make you second guess that very decision at least once. As a film, The Mist is worth seeing just for the final act alone. It’s one of the best endings I’ve seen in years. Quite frankly, given today’s PC Hollywood, I’m shocked that Darabont was able to keep it intact. In the final act, the film transitions from the campy surface-level nature of Maximum Overdrive to the depth of Children of Men in almost one cinematic second. It’s an amazing transformation. Trust me, if you haven’t seen it, you’ll be blown away.

The DVD Specs:

Although The Mist didn’t win over a lot of fans in theatres, the new Two-Disc Collector’s Edition makes up for a lot of lost ground. On rare occasion, maybe once or twice a year, a fractured film gets rescued when released on DVD. The Mist: Two Disc Collector’s Edition serves up a ton of extra entertainment value that actually makes the story, the production, and the entire Mist experience a lot more interesting and engaging than the theatrical presentation alone. Most notable among the multitude of goodies in The Mist is "The Director’s Vision: The Complete Feature in Black & White," which was supervised by Darabont himself and adds a fresh and unique tone to the film like a classic oldie. How many directors go that far for their films on DVD?

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