Review by CJ

Director:
Adam Bernstein, David Boyd, Nick Murphy, T.J. Scott, Richard Laxton, James Hawes, Matthew Penn, Guy Ferland

Writer:
Stephen King (based on the novella by), Christian Torpe, Peter Macmanus, Peter Biegen, Andrew Wilder, Amanda Segel, Noah Griffith, Daniel Stewart, Daniel Talbott

Starring:
Morgan Spector, Alyssa Sutherland, Gus Birney, Russell Posner, Danica Curcic, Okezie Morro, Darren Pettie, Luke Cosgrove, Frances Conroy

Other notable appearances:
Erik Knudsen, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Bill Carr

Running time:
39-48 minutes

Number of episodes:
10

When a strange mist descends on the town of Bridgeville, citizens must defend themselves not just against what lurks in the mist but also what lurks in the townspeople.

Completely unrelated to anything to do with entertainment value of the actual show but I need to get off my chest how much it bothered me that text declared “based on the novel by Stephen King” at the beginning of each episode when it was actually a novella. Now, I know I’m being nit-picky here, but that really bugged me. Most of the posters and advertising said “story” which is fine. But it wasn’t a novel. Even if it was later sold as a separate novella to coincide with the film release — not a novel. Anywho. Moving right along from the rabid fangirl rant.

I was really looking forward to settling in for a binge session with season one of The Mist as I enjoyed the novella by Stephen King and, to a lesser extent, the 2007 film starring Thomas Jane.

The Mist is a lot like The Walking Dead in that it’s not really about the gore or horror, it’s about how a group of volatile humans react to their world falling apart. It’s about throwing a group of people who may or may not get along or event interact in day to day life and forcing them together against a common enemy. In that, The Mist does a great job. There is a wide range of characters with different personalities, agendas and life experiences who are brought together in groups to survive. Or not, as sometimes the case may be.

Certain aspects of The Mist are predictable. There was one fairly major plot twist that I called in episode one that wasn’t revealed until episode eight. I was a little proud of that one.

There are a few moments where the viewer knows something is going to happen but the shock is discovering what does actually happen. There are a handful of “WTF” moments throughout season one of The Mist that work to keep the viewer of guard.

Without the shock factor moments, The Mist wouldn’t be quite as engaging or entertaining. While the examination of the human condition is interesting to watch, it can get a little tiresome in parts where there is not a lot or much of the same happening.

The acting in season one of The Mist is … well, it’s a little shaky. In many cases the performances and production seemed more like a made for (daytime) TV movie than a production from the same people that brought us Orange is the New Black, Ozark and Daredevil.

If you’re expecting an elongated version of the novella or film, be warned that season one of The Mist takes key elements but deviates considerable from its source material and predecessor. But if you enjoy shows that focus on human nature under extreme stress and don’t mind intermittent but generous servings of gore, then give The Mist until the end of episode two. If you’re not sold by then, move on and we shall never speak of it again.

Rating:

“I’m not a psycho. I’m really not.”