Why The Mist’s Movie Ending Still Haunts Audiences 19 Years Later
Stephen King’s The Mist shocked viewers with a film ending far darker than the original novel. Discover how Frank Darabont’s adaptation left a lasting impact, and why its bleak twist still stirs debate nearly two decades later.
When Stephen King penned his novel The Mist, he gave readers a glimmer of hope at the end. But when Frank Darabont brought the story to the big screen in 2007, he took a much darker turn. The film ’s conclusion left audiences reeling, stripped of any sense of comfort or optimism.
Darabont’s Unforgiving Vision
King has often voiced his mixed feelings about adaptations of his work, but he actually praised Darabont’s bold choice for The Mist’s finale. Instead of following the survivors as they wander into the unknown, clinging to the possibility of safety, the movie delivers a gut-wrenching twist. David, the protagonist, and his group spend days lost in the fog, desperately searching for salvation. When hope finally runs out, David makes a harrowing decision: with the group’s consent, he ends their lives—including that of his own young son.
Moments later, David steps out of the car, expecting to meet his end at the hands of the monsters lurking in the mist. Instead, he’s met by the military, who have already neutralized the threat. The realization hits him with crushing force—if he had waited just a little longer, his loved ones would have survived. The agony and guilt are overwhelming, leaving viewers with a sense of despair that lingers long after the credits roll.
Alternate Beginnings and Creative Choices
The film opens with a storm that draws the Drayton family ’s attention, soon followed by a mysterious fog rolling in over the lake. Ignoring the ominous signs, they head to the supermarket, where the nightmare truly begins. Originally, Darabont considered starting the movie with a scene showing a military experiment gone wrong, unleashing the mist. But after a conversation with cast member Andre Braugher, he decided to leave that sequence out, opting for a more ambiguous and unsettling introduction.
This creative decision added to the film’s tension, keeping viewers guessing about the true origin of the terror enveloping the town. The sense of uncertainty only deepened the impact of the story’s devastating conclusion.
Two Adaptations, One Unforgettable Ending
While the 2007 film adaptation is infamous for its bleak finale, The Mist was also adapted into a television series in 2017. The show took a different approach, introducing new characters and plotlines. In its final episode, the military arrives as a train pulls in, releasing prisoners into the chaos. The survivors soon realize the military isn’t there to save them, but is instead part of a larger experiment, feeding the monsters lurking in the mist.
Despite the series’ attempt to expand on King’s original story, it failed to deliver a satisfying resolution, leaving many questions unanswered. The film’s ending, however, remains etched in the minds of viewers, a testament to the power of a truly uncompromising vision.
The Mist is currently available to stream on Plex.