2 of 2

For some Christians, the character of Mrs. Carmody will frustrate. She's such a stereotype of bigotry and hate: the oft-portrayed right-wing Christian more interested in doling out judgment than spreading grace and love. Fortunately, her villainous persona within the film is so obviously a distortion of real Christianity, one hopes that the average audience member will recognize her as an anomaly rather than archetype. Still, there is a definite feeling in the film that Christianity—or religion in general—is at best a false hope and at worst a justification for the negative instincts of human nature.

These folks haven't the foggiest idea what's going on

Certainly some might make the connection to the politics of the war on terror and the "culture of fear" in this post-9/11 world. Are we to respond to terror by barricading ourselves in and going on a perpetual defensive? Or should we take a more proactive, offensive stance? Is fear ever helpful for a society? Should we rush to conclusions and accept the official explanations, or is a more measured, skeptical perspective apropos? By the end of the film these questions become painfully complicated, with no clear answers given.

The only thing clear about The Mist is that it is intense. Audiences looking for a good scare will not be disappointed, and those who appreciate proto-philosophical human dynamics will also find something of interest here. It's not The Shawshank Redemption, but for what it is, The Mist is an admirable venture into the always foggy, sometimes treacherous landscape of the human soul.

Talk About It

1. What does the film seem to be saying about fear? Does it help or hurt the main characters in the end?
2. The final five survivors make a choice at the end of the film. Does what happens to them seem plausible, and what is the message that arises from how it all turns out?
3. How is God portrayed in the film through the preaching of Mrs. Carmody? How is this different from how you understand God?

The Family Corner

The Mist is rated R for violence, terror and gore, and language. It's a stark, gory, and unsettling film, with a lot of scary scenes with monsters attacking and killing humans in a multitude of macabre ways. Though not quite as violent as some other recent horror films, The Mist is definitely violent enough to warrant caution. It is definitely not a movie for kids, and some adults might even find it tough to stomach. The moral issues raised are interesting and valuable to consider, however, so if you can handle horror films and disturbing endings, you might appreciate the film.

Photos © Copyright Dimension Films

© Brett McCracken subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

• Plugged In
  
• Crosswalk
  
• Catholic News Service
  
• Past the Popcorn

first page |  2 of 2