THE MIST — ** — Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden; rated R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, drugs); Carmike 12 and Ritz 15; Century Sandy and South Salt Lake; Cinemark Jordan Landing; Megaplex District, Gateway and Jordan Commons
Adapting Stephen King has proved tricky, even for filmmakers as skillful as the late Stanley Kubrick (the 1980 version of "The Shining") and Lawrence Kasdan (2003's "Dreamcatcher").
So it's to Frank Darabont's credit that he's made two decent King-based movies, "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) and "The Green Mile" (1999).
However, his third crack at King, "The Mist," is a serious stumble. It's a messy, ultimately depressing horror film that feels like an overlong episode of TV's "The Outer Limits" or "The Twilight Zone."
The limiting premise doesn't help. Much of the action occurs inside a supermarket, where customers are trapped after a supernatural storm cuts them off from the outside world.
While all sorts of weird insects and other gigantic, vicious creatures prey on those who venture outside, there's some serious bickering among the survivors.
Fantasy artist David Drayton (Thomas Jane) is trying to hold everyone together, while religious zealot Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden) has some of them convinced that this is the end of the world. (The latter subplot is remarkably unsubtle — some of that due to Harden's performance.)
In fact, most of the characters are similarly one-note, and the ultraviolence becomes pretty wearying. Also, the downbeat ending leaves a lingering, bad aftertaste.
The film's one really bright spot is Toby Jones as a seemingly meek assistant manager with some serious attitude.
"The Mist" is rated R for strong horror violence and violent imagery (creature attacks, shootings, a stabbing, and vehicular and other mayhem), graphic gore and blood, strong sexual language (profanity and crude slang), and drug content (pharmaceuticals and an overdose). Running time: 127 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com