Is the ending to ‘The Mist,’ one of the best in horror movie history?
Why would seemingly reasonable people fight so hard to survive, then within a few hours of driving around just decide to end it all?
The Mist movie, based on Stephen King’s novella, is a 2007 horror film that has left audiences with a hauntingly memorable ending. Yet, despite the fact that some may argue that the ending is one of the worst in horror movie history, if you break it down, there is a deeper meaning behind it, which shows that it’s one of the better endings in the horror movie genre.
The Mist is about a mist that inexplicably covers a small town in Maine, trapping a group of people inside a supermarket. Hidden in the mist are strange monsters that attack anyone who goes outside. The story focuses on the survivors’ attempts to cope with their increasingly hopeless situation, dealing with both the creatures in the mist and the conflicts that arise among the trapped townspeople. Both the book and the movie follow this storyline.
Themes of fear, the breakdown of society in the face of disaster, and the darkness of human nature under pressure are explored in both the book and the film.
In King’s original story, however, the ending is ambiguous. The main characters escape the supermarket and drive off into the mist, leaving their fate uncertain. King’s novella ends on a note of unresolved tension, as the survivors continue to drive through the mist without knowing what the future holds. In the movie, the ending is jarring and, to some, depressing. With the storyline and theme, compared to the open-ending finish of the book, the movie’s ending that director Darabont chose was the logical conclusion.
Belief system vs. reason
In both the book and the movie, two opposing realities appeared. As the story progresses, it becomes more evident how dire the situation was. In the end, that sense of dread ultimately won, and human behavior kicked in. From this terror, two opposing forces begin to form: those who already have a belief system in place, like Jim and Mrs. Carmody, and the seemingly rational ones, David, Ollie, Dan, Irene, and Amanda.
These two opposing realities were shown early on in the movie when David, who was trying to approach the situation with reason, said to Jim, who was being obtuse, “You guys don’t seem to understand, or you’re trying really hard not to.”
Beliefs and mental unawareness as coping mechanisms
As many of the people in the supermarket become more afraid, a lot of them begin to turn to Mrs. Carmody for guidance and comfort, and in turn, she uses her fanaticism to manipulate and control them, often stirring up fear and panic to solidify her position of power. Like Dan said, “You scare people badly enough, you can get them to do anything.”
As the film progresses, Mrs. Carmody becomes increasingly unhinged and violent, eventually resorting to violence to maintain her control over the group. All of this might seem insane, but this behavior falls well in line with how humans typically act in crises.
Like David said, when Amanda asserts that society is civilized, David responds by emphasizing how fragile civilization is and that it only works when the usual systems and support mechanisms are running, but take those away, and things can quickly descend into madness.
“Sure, as long as the machines are workin’ and you can dial 911, but you take those things away, throw people in the dark, you scare the shit out of them, no more rules, you’ll see how primitive they get.” — David.
The story leads us to believe that Mrs. Carmody and her followers were the crazy ones. They were not. They were just acting on their built-in belief system. Despite their fear, those who had some sort of pre-existing belief system, no matter how absurd, and those who lacked mental awareness, were better able to find something to help them cope.
Logic and Reason as a Source of Terror
On the other hand, David, Ollie, Dan, Irene, Amanda, and the others who approached the situation with logic and reason were the ones who were the most scared. They were able to see the full extent of their situation and had a keen insight into human behavior. That clear insight terrified them.
Ollie summed it up best when he said, “ As a species, we’re fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, and we pick sides and start dreaming up reasons to kill one another. Why do you think we invented politics and religion?”
While the movie is an allegory for irrational human behavior, one of the key themes is the importance of maintaining a clear mind and a practical approach in a crisis. However, what was also hiding in plain sight that the director picked up on was how fear and clarity can take a toll on the mind and drive even the most logical and practical individuals to the brink of madness. This is what happened to David, Dan, Irene, and Amanda after they escaped the supermarket.
As they drive around in the mist, this clarity eventually drives them insane, leading to Darabont’s haunting and possibly one of the most realistic endings in horror movie history.
The Mist is not a horror movie with a disappointing ending. It’s a about the power of fear and anxiety and the darker side of mental clarity in a high-stress situation.
