"The Mist" didn’t really get a fair shake at the box office. Part of that might be because it was released among so many other ‘audience’ pictures. Another reason could be that it’s not your typical Hollywood horror movie (particularly with regards to the ending). Too bad, because as movies based on Stephen King horror novels go, it’s arguably the best one ever made. It’s certainly the bravest, anyway. But, like John Carpenter’s "The Thing" (which was also a box office bomb), "The Mist" has the potential to be a sleeper classic.

The basic plot is "Night of the Living Dead" with Lovecraftian overtones. After a violent storm, dozens of people find themselves trapped in a supermarket when a mysterious fog roles into town, carrying with it a variety of vicious, bloodthirsty creatures. Much of the film focuses on how these people deal with the situation, and how easily society can break down under duress. The cast, headed by Thomas Jane, is terrific, particularly Marcia Gay Harden as a doomsaying zealot. Writer/director Frank Darabont works the same magic here that he did with "The Shawshank Redemption," which is take an already-compelling story and improve on it. What he does best with this material is defy the audience’s expectations. With rare exception, you never know who will live or die, and as the movie goes along, you have to disregard the assumption that the good guys will always be the ones making the right decisions. And, like "The Thing", the film is bleak and relentless. Then there’s the ending, which is one of the ballsiest of any mainstream movie ever made, and will inspire endless love-it-or-loathe it debates. But whether you like the resolution or not, you aren’t likely to ever forget it.

Not everything works. The film is a bit too long, and there a some characters who could have been left out (without being missed) to trim up the running time. The plot also relies on a few unbelievably stupid characters to push the story along. The special effects run hot and cold, particularly with the creatures; there are times when it’s obvious we’re watching CGI.