Steven King "The Mist" Ending- A Strong Contender for Worst in Horror Movie History or Maybe Not

The Mist is about a mist that inexplicably covers a small town and, in it, hides monsters, and a group of townies are trapped inside a supermarket trying to figure out what's going on.

Based on a Steven King's novella, The Mist is a 2007 horror film that has left audiences with a hauntingly memorable ending. Despite the fact that some may argue that the ending is one of the worst in horror movie history, there is a deeper meaning behind it, which leads me to believe that it's one of the better endings in the horror movie genre.

Two Opposing Realities: Belief Systems vs. Rationality

As the movie progresses, it becomes more evident how dire their situation was. In the end, that sense of dread ultimately won, and human behavior kicked in. From this terror, two opposing forces begin to form: those who already had a belief system in place and the seemingly rational ones.

These two opposing realities were shown early on in the movie when David, who was trying to approach the situation with reason, said to Jim, who was being obtuse, "You guys don't seem to understand, or you're trying really hard not to."

Coping Mechanisms: Beliefs and Mental Unawareness

Despite their fear, those who had a pre-existing belief system, no matter how absurd, like Mrs. Carmody, a religious zealot, and those who lacked mental awareness, such as Jim, were better able to find something to help them cope.

Fear and Insight: Logic and Reason as a Source of Terror

On the other hand, David, Ollie, Dan, Irene, Amanda and the others who approached the situation with logic and reason were the ones who were the most scared because they were able to see the full extent of their dire situation and had a keen insight into human behavior.

Ollie summed it up best when he said, " As a species, we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, and we pick sides and start dreaming up reasons to kill one another. Why do you think we invented politics and religion?"

Manipulation and Control through Fanaticism

The film leads us to believe that Mrs. Carmody and her followers were the crazy ones; they were not, they were just acting on their built-in belief system.

As the situation becomes more dire, some begin to turn to Mrs. Carmody for guidance and comfort, and in turn, she uses her fanaticism to manipulate and control them, often stirring up fear and panic to solidify her position of power. like Dan said, "You scare people badly enough, you can get them to do anything."

Fragility of Civilization: Unfamiliar Crises and Descending into Chaos

As the film progresses, Mrs. Carmody becomes increasingly unhinged and violent, eventually resorting to violence to maintain her control over the group. All of this might seem insane, but this behavior falls well in line with how humans typically act in unfamiliar crises.

Like David said, when Amanda asserts that society is civilized, David responds by emphasizing how fragile civilization is and that it only works when the usual systems and support mechanisms are running, but take those away and things can quickly descend into madness.

"Sure, as long as the machines are workin' and you can dial 911, but you take those things away, throw people in the dark, you scare the shit out of them, no more rules, you'll see how primitive they get." - David.

The Allegory of Irrational Human Behavior

The movie is an allegory for irrational human behavior. Yet, one of the key themes in The Mist is the importance of maintaining a clear mind and a practical approach in high-stress situations; however, what was hiding in plain sight was how fear and clarity take a toll on the mind and how they can drive even the most logical and practical individuals to the brink of madness. This is what happened to David, Dan, Irene, and Amanda after they escaped the supermarket.

The Toll of Fear and Clarity: Driving to the Brink of Madness

Why would seemingly reasonable people fight so hard to stay alive then within a few hours of driving around just give up?

As they drive around in the mist, this clarity eventually drives them insane, leading to the film's haunting and possibly one of the most realistic endings in horror movie history.

The Mist is not a horror movie with a disappointing ending. It's a thought-provoking commentary on the power of fear and anxiety and the darker side of mental clarity in high-stress situations.