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5th October 2023
10:52am BST
It's rare you get a horror movie with a happy ending, but The Mist might just take the crown for the most twisted and harrowing conclusion to a film ever.
Directed by Frank Darabont and released in 2007, the film is an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name.
On a fairly minor budget ($18 million), it made its money back (a little over $57 million worldwide), and critics at the time liked it but didn't seem to love it (71% on Rotten Tomatoes).
But the 15 years since the release of The Mist have been hugely kind in retrospect, if only because the movie is so incredibly grim in its final moments...
To catch you up on the plot of the movie (and King's book), a small town becomes entirely enveloped in a mysterious mist, reportedly originating from an army science base nearby. Within the mist, huge and violent creatures are killing anyone they come into contact with, so David (Thomas Jane) and his son seek refuge in a large supermarket with a group of his friends and neighbours.
But it isn't long before the monsters outside can't hold a candle to the monstrosities within the store.
Deciding to make a break for it, David, his son and three more from the store get in a car and attempt to drive out of the fog. Eventually running out of petrol, they decide to take their own lives, rather than be consumed by the monsters. But David's gun only has four bullets, so he shoots the three passengers, and then his own son.
He gets out of the car, putting himself into the path of what he believes is an incoming monster, only for the fog to break and reveal a tank. The army are beginning to get the situation under control, and at that moment, a truck goes by, containing many of the people from within the store.
Realising that he and his son were just moments from being saved, David collapses to his knees and screams in despair.
Horror fans have recently been discussing the horrific ending in a post on Reddit devoted to the "most messed up" scary movie endings.
One person described it as a "sucker punch" - which if anything is probably an understatement - with another saying it was "one of the bleakest" endings they've ever seen, adding that it left them "absolutely empty."
Another viewer said that even on their third viewing of the movie it "still nearly brings me to tears."
Many praised the film for the ending as well, with one fan writing: "It made me feel sick and it was absolutely brilliant for the balls it had to do what it did.”
A second said: “It’s probably one of my absolute favourite horror movies. A bit corny, but wow, just such a great horror flick. Was really enjoying it, then the ending hit and bam. Cemented as one of my favourites. Just absolutely nails the bleak hopelessness theme.”
The Mist ending is becomes even bolder when you realise that even Stephen King didn't go for a conclusion that bleak, but he was fully on board with the idea.
In King's version of the story, David, his son and fellow survivors are in a hotel room, having heard over the radio that there is somewhere to go that might offer sanctuary. It is much more open-ended, but also supplies a glimmer of hope, one that Darabont completely snuffs out with his version.
At a press conference for the movie's release, King said: "Frank wrote a new ending that I loved. It is the most shocking ending ever and there should be a law passed stating that anybody who reveals the last 5 minutes of this film should be hung from their neck until dead."
Additionally, King told USA Today the following: "The ending is such a jolt - wham! - it's frightening. But people who go to see a horror movie don't necessarily want to be sent out with a Pollyanna ending."
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