There are horror movies that should more accurately be called “scare movies”. From the opening credits their one and only goal is to make the audience (usually 13-year old girls) jump at some loud noise, spring-loaded cat, sudden decapitation, etc. Then there are the rarer horror movies that actually horrify the audience.

Last night I went to see The Mist with a group of friends. I read the novella a couple of years ago and was very excited to see this adaptation coming to the big screen, especially in the capable hands of Frank Darabont. The movie was extremely faithful to the novella with only slight modifications to fit the medium. As the movie progressed, the audience, and my friends in particular, began to feel more and more uneasy, uncomfortable. This is no fun-time “horror flick” with winks to the audience and clever death scenes. There are a few moments of levity throughout, but the final 30 minutes are tense, uncomfortable, disturbing, and horrifying.

Most of the cast was strong. I kind of wish that they had gotten another actor for the lead. I get the feeling that this movie was too much for Thomas Jane. He did a competent job in The Punisher, but this is a very different movie. Also, the dialogue and delivery of the lines at the beginning of the film in the back of the store seemed a little off. No other way to describe it.

I could see the ending coming even though it was different than the book. Knowing what was coming in no way lessened the impact of the final scenes. I look forward to other filmmakers following Darabont’s lead to make King’s novels not so much “scary” as horrifying.