I'm not as bothered by some of the spelling out the film does as the the Horror Guru.
In their books Landscape of Fear and Art of Darkness, by Tony Magistrale and Doug Winters respectively, they both come to the same conclusion that the Mist novella is grounded in misgivings of technology and the price tag it might come with (he wrote on the latest of three laptops).
Winters even goes so far as to point out the similarities the novella has to various 50s sci-fi Bug-Eyed Monster films, even down to the various types in the film.
The All-American protagonist, the shady military types, the All American Girl-Next-Door, The Skeptic, etc. The only trope that doesn't make an appearance, according to Winters, is the archetypal Mad Scientist.
Arguments can be made as to whether or not the story in either incarnation is stronger for it, however I have no problem with how either novel, radio drama or film play this aspect out.
My only complaints remain the same as before, I wished for a better ending, and that Mrs. Carmody could have been more subtle and nuanced.
Wow, don't mention it!
ReplyDeleteI'm not as bothered by some of the spelling out the film does as the the Horror Guru.
In their books Landscape of Fear and Art of Darkness, by Tony Magistrale and Doug Winters respectively, they both come to the same conclusion that the Mist novella is grounded in misgivings of technology and the price tag it might come with (he wrote on the latest of three laptops).
Winters even goes so far as to point out the similarities the novella has to various 50s sci-fi Bug-Eyed Monster films, even down to the various types in the film.
The All-American protagonist, the shady military types, the All American Girl-Next-Door, The Skeptic, etc. The only trope that doesn't make an appearance, according to Winters, is the archetypal Mad Scientist.
Arguments can be made as to whether or not the story in either incarnation is stronger for it, however I have no problem with how either novel, radio drama or film play this aspect out.
My only complaints remain the same as before, I wished for a better ending, and that Mrs. Carmody could have been more subtle and nuanced.
Otherwise, I think Darabont did alright.
ChrisC