Review: The Mist (T.V. Series)

(imdb.com)

Converting content for television - whether pulled from books or movies - can be a difficult and arduous task. Television series like The Exorcist on Fox rightfully received lukewarm reviews and even though it was better than okay, something felt missing. But, there have been plenty of success stories. Bates Motel, for instance, was widely popular for audiences and critics alike. Now that it's over though, those craving new horror on television need to look no further than The Mist.


Similar in style to the 2007 film and based on the novel by horror icon Stephen King, the Spike series follows a family of three facing the impending evil of a dense fog with sinister creatures within. Like the movie and novel, the television show traps characters together indoors. In the series, the first three episodes - now streaming on Spike - bring a mother and daughter, the daughter's alleged rapist and a multitude of others into a shopping mall, while the father a pair of prisoners an old lady and the girl's best friend, as well as an officer and a few others hold up in a church.


The series stars Alyssa Sutherland (Vikings), Gus Birney (Darcy) and Morgan Spector (The Drop) as Eve, Alex and Kevin Copeland. Holly Deveaux (The Phantoms) and Okezie Morro (Red Tails) play the two prisoners, Luke Cosgrove (Shiver) plays alleged rapist Jay, Russell Posner (The D Train) plays best friend, Adrian, and Frances Conroy (American Horror Story) plays the newly widowed Nathalie. Each of the series' stars is adequate in their role, but Sutherland and Spector truly stand out. Sutherland is able to capture her role as a witty and protective mother perfectly, as is Spector able to uphold his identity as a caring, but more laid-back father. Each is intently political constructions that the series shows indications of disrupting and for that, The Mist wins additional points.


There are some parts of the first three episodes that feel cheesy or a little off. One pair of scenes that are placed together use the word "bitch" in a way that'll make audiences cringe, not because it should be deemed offensive, more because a better comeback would be worthwhile. These are less problems with the stars though and more a reoccurring theme with some hack writing that seeps into an otherwise good series. The graphics also seem to bounce back and forth between entertaining and just laughable, as some of the things seen in the mist are more visually stunning than others.


The Mist Is certain to appease horror fans who may not mind some of its more questionable aspects. Despite feeling a little too made-for-SyFy, there is plenty of creepy moments and some good acting. Whereas some horror television shows take a turn for the dramatics, The Mist is a welcome addition to the horror universe because it seems dedicated to horror itself. There's gore, survival and an atmosphere of loss similar to The Walking Dead. If at all predictable, this series offers enough to keep attention without requiring too much thought. 7 out of 10.