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The Mist
by Reg Seeton
 Oddly enough, in a slight way, the Black & White version bridges a tonal gap between the King novella and the modern adaptation. In many ways it enhances the movie’s subtleties and makes the threat of the mist (and the mist sequences) much more eerie in an organic manner. As well, Frank Darabont’s passion for the project shines through in almost every corner of the set, from a great feature length commentary and his introduction to the Black & White version to the great "When Darkness Came: The Making of The Mist" and "Deleted Scenes" with optional Darabont commentary. If you’ve ever listened to Darabont on other previously released discs, you know any session with the writer/director is always time well spent. Also, the two-disc set includes a fantastic breakdown of the film’s action sequence when the creatures of the mist invade the supermarket in "Taming the Beast: The Making of Scene 35." No matter what you think of the final product, it’s clear through Scene 35 that Darabont’s commitment and dedication to creating and choreographing quality action commands respect. In fact, the volume of features on The Mist command an equal amount of appreciation.
Feature Commentary with Director Frank Darabont
Drew Struzan: An Appreciation of an Artist
Deleted scenes with optional commentary
Behind-the-Scenes Webisodes
Trailer Gallery
Frank Darabont Introduces The Mist in Black & White
The Director's Vision: The Complete Feature Film in Black & White
When Darkness Came: The Making of The Mist
Taming the Beast: The Making of Scene 35
Monsters Among Us: A Look at the Creature Effects
The Horror of It All: The Visual Effects of The Mist
Overall:
Although The Mist is an odd creature as a film, its treatment on DVD definitely makes up for some of the fractured misses of the feature. If you’re fan of the film, you won’t be disappointed in the least. The film looks and sounds great and the Two-Disc Collector’s Set is loaded with a ton of supplemental options that give fans an alternate version of the film with a variety of inside extras that take the entire experience to a whole new level. Even if you weren’t a fan of the film the first time around, the DVD challenges you to take a closer look. Either way, it’s one of this year’s "must have" DVDs.
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