Horror films have proven profitable for the studios, both major and independent. And the more gory, the more successful it seems. But was the $8.9 million opening of Frank Darabont’s adaptation of the Stephen King novella, The Mist bad or good? Well, it really was not bad, as it had to go up against the critically well received Enchanted. However, of the five major films that opened over the Thanksgiving weekend, it did come in last place, despite being the second best reviewed film (based on the Rotten Tomatoes web site, and take what you may from that).
The sad part of it was that Hitman, a sadistically violent film, couched with blatant misogyny and at its best, incoherent plotting, favored better than The Mist. I asked a co-worker, who is huge film goer (him and his girlfriend saw 6 films over the holiday), what caused the movie to come in 9th place.
He said the biggest thing that might scare the young, usually rampant fans of the horror genre, was the film was character based, and not plot driven. It’s cast consisted of older, more mature actors such as Thomas Jane, Andre Braugher and Marcia Gay Harden. He also mentioned, perhaps, some might’ve thought the movie was a remake of The Fog, the 1980 horror film directed by John Carpenter.
Plus the chills and thrills came more off screen than on, leaving the audience to imagine what was going on, as with the rope scene when Braugher’s skeptic lawyer character ventures out into the mist.
It’s a B film none the less, but best B film in a long time. Still, one wonders if that’s all today’s audience wants: plot driven set pieces filled with creepy characters and soggy scripts -which is exactly what the up coming Timber Falls looks like.
The sad part of it was that Hitman, a sadistically violent film, couched with blatant misogyny and at its best, incoherent plotting, favored better than The Mist. I asked a co-worker, who is huge film goer (him and his girlfriend saw 6 films over the holiday), what caused the movie to come in 9th place.
He said the biggest thing that might scare the young, usually rampant fans of the horror genre, was the film was character based, and not plot driven. It’s cast consisted of older, more mature actors such as Thomas Jane, Andre Braugher and Marcia Gay Harden. He also mentioned, perhaps, some might’ve thought the movie was a remake of The Fog, the 1980 horror film directed by John Carpenter.
Plus the chills and thrills came more off screen than on, leaving the audience to imagine what was going on, as with the rope scene when Braugher’s skeptic lawyer character ventures out into the mist.
It’s a B film none the less, but best B film in a long time. Still, one wonders if that’s all today’s audience wants: plot driven set pieces filled with creepy characters and soggy scripts -which is exactly what the up coming Timber Falls looks like.
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