DVD Review: The Mist: Two-Disc Collector’s Edition

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The Mist: Two-Disc Collector’s Edition–***1/2
DVD Review

If you saw Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Mist in theaters, whether you liked it or not, you need to pick up the DVD. If you haven’t seen this horror throwback, then you’d do well to skip right to disc two of this Collector’s Edition DVD set. The film, which was a respectable genre picture in its own right, gets a whole new life in DVD’s black & white presentation of the feature film.

Darabont introduces the black & white version of The Mist as his “director’s cut”, his original vision. And what an original vision it is. The film, which was full of genuinely terrifying moments, has a spookier feel. Some scenes—the opening sequence, a tentacle monster attack, a web-filled pharmacy scene, anything that happens in the mist—were made to be shot in black & white.

You can see the inspiration of 1950s/1960s sci-fi and horror films in this version of the film, which still follows a group of residents trapped inside a grocery store as a mist full of man-eating creatures engulfs their tiny New England town. Though the film could have also used a new score to go along with this new vision, the story of a small group of sane people who must survive a growing cult mentality fueled by the town’s self-proclaimed prophet still resonates. Only this time, it’s on a different, more appropriate plain.

Many other films have had multiple versions released over time. A director’s cut here. An extended final vision there. Kudos to The Weinstein Company for releasing this The MistDVD set with both versions of the film. We may also have lackluster box office results from the original theatrical run to thank, but either way, it’s rare for a DVD to offer so much in one release.

Special Features:
Exclusive Black & White Presentation of the Film
Collectible Booklet with Written Commentary by Darabont
8 Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Darabont
When Darkness Came: The Making Of The Mist
Taming The Beast: Shooting Scene 35
Monsters Among Us: A Look At The Creature FX
The Horror Of It All: The Visual FX Of The Mist
Drew Struzan: Appreciation Of An Artist

Darabont’s intro to the black & white version courtesy of YouTube:
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The Mist, directed by Frank Darabont and starring Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden, is available Tuesday, March 26 on DVD.