Amazon Prime has added a 'truly gripping and genuinely terrifying' horror film that's the ideal follow-up for fans of The Monkey. This month saw the release of the latest cinematic adaptation of a short story by renowned author Stephen King, which is already earning rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. For those who relished The Monkey, there's another celebrated movie based on a King tale ready to stream at home. Originally hitting screens in 2007, The Mist is now part of Amazon Prime's offering for subscribers.
Staying true to its source material, the plot unfolds as a violent storm wreaks havoc on a town in Maine. The following morning, a menacing mist descends, trapping a group of locals, including artist David Drayton and his young son, inside a grocery store.
They soon realise that the mist harbours a host of horrifying creatures from another dimension, possibly unleashed by a nearby military base. As their world turns into a living nightmare, the terrified townsfolk fight to survive the apocalyptic catastrophe.
The film was directed by Frank Darabont of The Walking Dead fame, marking his second time adapting a Stephen King story after Shawshank Redemption. He would later helm a third King adaptation with The Green Mile. Surrey Live reports The Mist impressed critics and fans alike with a solid 73% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and even Empire magazine, giving it four stars while proclaiming: "Criminally overlooked in the States, this is one of the best horror movies of the last few years.".
While stylistically and thematically akin to The Monkey, another stellar adaptation of Stephen King's short stories, The Mist deviates primarily in its jaw-dropping final scene—a twist so potent that even King himself has confessed he believes the film's conclusion outshines his original narrative. The movie's enduring impact is evident in fan comments; one struck by the film shared online that it's "extremely gripping and genuinely scary.".
Another fan declared: "Wonderfully adapted yet somehow improved. There's a dated campiness that's great fun but soaked in unknown fear." They also celebrated the film's imagery and sound, asserting, "The monsters' design is amazing with a score that carries a cinematic tone. Vastly bleak and hopeless in its emotional climax.".
Echoing the sentiments of many, a third enthusiast declared, "The Mist is one of my personal favourite horror films. Suspense, mystery and horror all blended perfectly! All everyone talks about is the ending, but it's justified as it's just that shocking!".
