Spike delivers murky take on Stephen King’s ‘Mist’
Just in time for peak bug spray season, Spike TV drops a series adaptation of Stephen King's “The Mist.”
“The Mist” was first published as a novella in King's 1980 anthology “Dark Forces,” and its story of Maine residents trapped in a supermarket by an unearthly fog — and the terrifying creatures lurking within it — was a frightening mix of suspense and horror that ended on an uncertain but poignant note.
Frank Darabont's film adaptation of the same name in 2007 with Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden was faithful to most of King's work until that
ending, which was like being gut-punched and robbed by a gang of giggling 8-year-old girls: painful, humiliating and something you're loath to talk about with strangers.
Darabont, of course, went on to develop and produce a little show called “The Walking Dead,” and Spike would like to replicate that show's success. It already shares one thing in common with it — it's painfully cheap.
Executive producer Christian Torpe's vision grows a new set of Mainers to torment. Eve (Alyssa Sutherland, “Vikings”) is a teacher suspended for teaching too much sex education to her high school students. She and crunchy-granola hubby Kevin (Morgan Spector, “Person of Interest”) seem to have a strong marriage, but the fault line in their stars is their 16-year-old daughter, Alex (Gus Birney), who resents her mother controlling her every move.
When Alex is apparently date-raped at a party by Jay (Luke Cosgrove), the local high school football superstar, the family finds themselves pariahs in their town.
There are several pointed shots of common insects — and one hungry toad — infringing on people's private space. The police in this small town are so moronic, they should be strummin' banjos on the stoop.
Against this backdrop, a peculiar mist falls, a gloom so thick you can't see a few inches from your face. While home to some angry beasties, this haze also disrupts telephone signals (convenient) and seems to induce homicidal madness in some people.
Residents now confused and fighting for their lives include an anguished gardening expert (Frances Conroy, “American Horror Story” and “Six Feet Under,” easily the best and most recognizable performer here), an amnesiac soldier (Okezie Morro), a bi-curious teen (Russell Posner) and a criminal (Danica Curcic) handy with her fists.
“The Mist” does contain one off-handedly hilarious moment as Adrian (Posner), wearing guyliner, pleads to be excused from the dinner table. His father finally looks up, gets up, slams his own plate on the kitchen counter and storms away.
Mom says, “You know your father can't hear you when you're wearing makeup.”
Like King's last TV series, “Under the Dome,” “The Mist” would seem to have a short shelf life.
One hour with these people and you'll be rooting for the critters.