The religious overtones of The Mist - Contains spoilers

[Monotreme]

http://www.theplugg.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/mist2.jpg

I saw this movie today, and I must say that I was extremely, extremely impressed. The characters aren't fully developed but the film was fabulously, naturalistically and realistically handled, featuring some great acting especially from Marcia Gay Harden. And then there's that ending. Talk about bleak!! This was definitely one of the most frustratingly depressing movie endings of the near while.

But the most fascinating and intricate aspect of the film and what truly elevates it above your average sci-fi horror film are its strikingly poignant religious overtones. Like other movies such as Dawn of the Dead, the situation can be interpreted as a microcosmos parable; delivering a message of global proportions by creating a smaller version of the world inside a supermarket/shopping mall/whatever. In this case, the message delivered is one about the captive powers of organized religion. Here's a breakdown of how I felt about it.

At first, it seems clear that Darabont is taking the classic liberal standpoint, portraying the persuasive powers of organized religion, clearly embodied by Marcia Gay Harden's character, as blinding and enslaving. The people trapped in the supermarket, facing the ultimate unknown fear (the most extreme possible example of the many unknown and unexplainable fears that plague our lives daily - death, personal tragedy, etc), are split in two; one group which eventually become the majority, turn to religion, spefically Christianity/Old Testament in this case, and use an almighty being called "God" to explain the unexplainable disaster by claiming it as "God's will", and since they trust in God they have no reason to fear it but rather find out what caused God's wrath and try to fix it. The other group, eventually the minority (95% of people on the planet believe in some kind of religion), are those who try not to find an answer to their questions but rather a logical and practical way to solve their predicament; this, along with the religion's hostility, cause them eventually to risk going out into the danger in order to try and reach eventual safety while the religious fanatics stay behind to be eventually and inevitably devoured by their own primitive beliefs.

But what happens in the end? David and his group's attempts to save themselves prove futile, and in the end they give in to the hopelessness and decide to take their lives, all except David who ironically stays alive to witness what would have rescued them only moments later had they not given in to the hopelessness and remained confident that something would save them. On the other hand, the religious fanatics back at the supermarket, whom the religion turned into fanatic, blind, bloodthirsty murderers, never gave up and remained stalwart that they should stay put and not do anything because their overseer God will deliver them from the evil; the army had inevitably eventually arrived at the supermarket and extracted the survivors. The ending is not only frustratingly bleak, depressing and tragic - what's worse is that it's also painfully ironic. Even though the film (and David and his gang) clearly see the embodiment of organized religion as kooky, supersticious and eventually vicious and murderous, eventually it is their headstrong, straightforward logic that leads them to the conclusion that, stranded on the highway without gas in the mist, no possible hope for rescue remains for them. Faith leads to blindless and bloodthirst, but David's lack of faith is what leads to him remaining alive after killing with his own hands everything that remained dear to him.

So what's the ultimate conclusion that I think the film, as well as King/Darabont are aiming at? Organized religion is dangerous, but so is lack of faith. One must not let the theatrics, extremities and simple answers organized religion has to offer; but at the same time, one MUST show faith and believe in something, ANYTHING - because otherwise no other reason to continue living remains.

All this and more makes this, easily, the best horror movie in a very long time, probably since 2001's The Others, after which the horror genre had very quickly degraded into one based mostly on superficial and frighfully cruel exploitation, shock and gore. At last, a horror movie that actually makes you think.

[CosmicPuppet]

Very good points. I don't think this film wasn't so much about religious faith, but hope in general. The same kind of hope that King/Darabont focused on in the Shawshank Redemption. This film to me is the anti-thesis of Shawshank where in that film, one sees how hope could keep a man's spirit alive and lead to his victory over a crooked system where in this film, it's about a man losing his hope to a disastrous situation.

I think the survivors in the supermarket are going to have to live with their own shame even if they did survive the ordeal. They murdered someone in cold blood for presumptuous reasons and they should have to account for their actions. Mrs. Carmody got the easy way out. The others will have to live with the shame that they gave up their logic and morals in the name of faith. Meanwhile, the rationalists lose for the opposite reason. It's a striking parallel that King/Darabont implemented in the film.

Everybody loses in my mind whether they lived or were killed by the monsters. That's why the ending is such a downer because nobody wins in this film. The misguided faithful or the logical rationalists. But damn is it a great film.

[BakeTheMooCow]

After leaving the supermarket and running out of gas, the gang still had supplies and they were in no immediate danger when they decide to take that radical action. So no, it wasn't straightforward, logical thinking on their part. They were impulsive and stupid. Also, we don't know what happened to the people in the supermarket. There were holes in the windows, they didn't have a gun anymore and the church lady had a bullet in her head. For all we know, they could all be dead too.

Organized religion is dangerous, but so is lack of faith. One must not let the theatrics, extremities and simple answers organized religion has to offer; but at the same time, one MUST show faith and believe in something, ANYTHING - because otherwise no other reason to continue living remains.
What do you propose that "something, ANYTHING" is?

[spacemonkey]

I loved this movie precisely because of its strong anti-religious message. But it can be seen on two levels it both makes a comment about religion but also about politics. They are both intertwined in the same film because both religion and politics are very similar in more ways then one.

- They both give people a certain amount of hope
- They both move the masses
- They both affect the lives of millions
- They both lie
- They both cheat
- They both take advantage of peoples fears
- They both work through fear

At first you think The Mist is your regular run of the mill monster movie. But after the mist settles we begin to see how the people band and separate amongst themselves. We start to see what this movie is really about.

The political aspect is handled first. A few of the people see the horrors in the outside world represented by the tentacle that they encounter. Those few tell the others and the others refuse to believe that there is actually something really awful happening out there in the outside world. Something that can and will affect us all. But some refuse to recognize that and want to continue living their lives as if nothing is really happening. This people end up dead when they venture out into the myst and come face to face with whats really happening in the world. We can compare this situation to people who refuse to believe theres some serious issues, regarding violence, death, war, hunger, and over all chaos going on in the outside world. Some people refuse to see this and in fact ignore it. It will only be a matter of time before these issues come biting them in the ass if they continue to ignore them. People, its time to do something about things, not just sit around watching tv and ignoring the real problems in the world. Those problems will eventually end up affecting you and the ones you love. But I love how the film hides these themes within the context of a science fiction / horror film.

Then the religion themes kick into the film. Mrs. Carmody, a mentally unstable citizen sees the mist as a sign of the biblical "end of days". The biblical armageddon is here and gods wrath is upon us. We need to repent, give ourselves to god and do his will. Sacrafice and kill evil doers. Basically she brings the people in the supermarket back to the dark ages with sacrafices and fanatical preaching. Its just Darabonts and Kings way of addressing the evil of cult like religions and religion in general. When Mrs. carmody starts babling about the end of the world and what not, the old lady throws a can at her face telling her to shut her yap which was a fantastic sequence. Because obviously Mrs. Carmody doesnt know jackshit of what shes talking about, and shes filling peoples heads with fears that they dont need taking in consideration the hard moments they are going through. Instead of focusing on what to do, she fills peoples minds with fear and lies. Much like religion, people dont need it to be good or to function. People dont need to live their lives with fears, being told what to do by someone who has no idea whatsoever as to what they are talking about. I hate the way Mrs. Carmody takes everything that happens and gives it her own biblical interpretation. Much like todays religious leaders who take advantage or any significant world event (like spt 11 for example) and use it to scare people and make new parishoners. Its sick but its true. Religion is farce and you dont need it to function, thats what this film is trying to tell you.

The ones that choose not to believe the bullshit and live in the real world, decide to move on and do something about their current situation at which point the movie also takes the opportunity to speak about the horrors of suicide. Often times when you find yourselfs out in the real world without the safe answers that religion has to offer you, you find yourself face to face with the cold evil world outside. Sometimes the problems of the world seem as big and as monstrous as the creatures that they encounter as soon as they leave the supermarket. World Hunger, war, decease, death, global warming, crime rates going up...yes the problems of the world are huge, but you cannot give in to dispair. Even though you do not have the safety that religion gives you with its bullshit answers, you have to rely on yourself to be strong, your inner strength, not the bullshit fantasy world that religion has to offer you. If you give in to dispair and choose death (as did the characters of the film) you might loose that opportunity to see that things can and most likely will change for the better as humanity moves forward and keeps on learning from their mistakes. As it happens in the film, the main character realizes that if they hadnt given in to dispair they might have been alright. Had they waited just a few more minutes.

That for me is the message behind this film, and I agree with you its one of the best horror films of the past year, and a great in depth take on religion and politics. We need more relevant horror science fiction films such as this one.

[spacemonkey]

What do you propose that "something, ANYTHING" is?

Yourself and the world you know. Humanity. Love. Goodness. You dont need to believe in the fantasies that faith has to offer you in order to keep on living. Its to easy to fill up your head with make believe answers just to believe in something.

Why not believe in what you know? The real world, reality. And accept that we dont know the answers to everything, and that maybe sometime ahead in the future someday somehow we will know these answers. But until the answers to all the big questions remain unanswered, you have to live and work with what you know about life.

The real truth? No one really knows it, thats why theres so many unrealistic religions with answers that are closer to fantasy novels then to reality. As one character says in the mist "people need answers and they take the answers that religions have to offer".

This much is true, religions take advantage of peoples need for answers to the big unanswered questions. They give them the perfect answers to the afterlife and the origin of life in a neatly wrapped package. A hollow package at that, with no basis whatsoever in reality.

It all boils down to if you want to believe the bullshit and live a life believing a fantasy, or live in the real world, face the truth about things and just learn to enjoy your life and be happy.

[poopontheshoes7]

These are some of the best explainations of the film I've read. I think you guys really nailed it. This film is truly great and one of the best horror films in the past decade for sure.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Yourself and the world you know. Humanity. Love. Goodness. You dont need to believe in the fantasies that faith has to offer you in order to keep on living. Its to easy to fill up your head with make believe answers just to believe in something.
"Believing" in humanity and love and goodness is a vague notion. What does that mean? Just understanding that it exists? I was questioning this:

One must not let the theatrics, extremities and simple answers organized religion has to offer; but at the same time, one MUST show faith and believe in something, ANYTHING - because otherwise no other reason to continue living remains
If one disregards religion, why is it still necessary to 'show faith' and 'believe in something', etc. in order to continue living?

[spacemonkey]

"Believing" in humanity and love and goodness is a vague notion. What does that mean? Just understanding that it exists? I was questioning this:

If one disregards religion, why is it still necessary to 'show faith' and 'believe in something', etc. in order to continue living?

Believing in humanity and love is vague? No it isnt. At least humanity and the improvement of it, its evolution is something concrete that you can believe in. One thing that always gives me hope is how we have improved in many ways as a race. I mean, I know we have some very bad things that we have to still work on and improve, but we are more advanced in many ways then our predecessors and I often times keep a positive out look, hoping that we will continue improving. That we will be intelligent enough to leave differences behind and evolve to a more peaceful, positive race. One that will unite and attack the true problems that are plaguing our world. Of course Im going to believe in humanity and love. I do not consider these things vague.

What should I believe in then? Well, what is there to believe in? If I disregard the lies that religion has to offer, then what to I belive in?

Since no religion can prove to you any of the things that they can "teach" you, they will tell you that you have to rely on faith. And faith is believing in something you have no proof. I wont put my faith and waist my time in something that doesnt have even the smallest ounce of reality to it. Im pretty sure that you if you want to believe in something, youd want to believe in something that has some substance to it, you can believe that no one really knows the answers to anything and that life will remain a mystery until these answers are revealed be it by science or by an all powerful god. Either way, we still remain ignorant as to how we came to be as a race, and where we go once we die.

So believe in the fact that no one really knows anything, and you have only yourself and the knowledge you have about the world to come to your own conclusions.

Strip away any unrealistic explenations that religions can offer and what are left with? You. Your life. The world you live in. Your friends, your family and loved ones. That is what you can believe in. That you were put on this world to enjoy life, and have some fun. Make the best with what you got. Be an asset to humanity and your community, help out and change things for the better if you can.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Believing in humanity and love is vague? No it isnt. At least humanity and the improvement of it, its evolution is something concrete that you can believe in. One thing that always gives me hope is how we have improved in many ways as a race. I mean, I know we have some very bad things that we have to still work on and improve, but we are more advanced in many ways then our predecessors and I often times keep a positive out look, hoping that we will continue improving. That we will be intelligent enough to leave differences behind and evolve to a more peaceful, positive race. One that will unite and attack the true problems that are plaguing our world. Of course Im going to believe in humanity and love. I do not consider these things vague.

What should I believe in then? Well, what is there to believe in? If I disregard the lies that religion has to offer, then what to I belive in?
That's fantastic for you. But I'm disagreeing with the notion that if you don't "believe" in something, there is no reason to live.

[Monotreme]

Excellent, excellent points and arguements there, spacemonkey. I actually never thought of the political message of the film, represented by Mr. Norton and the band of people he collects around him.

So, BakeTheMooCow. I'll try to explain why I feel that you have to "believe" in something to have a reason to live. Now you have to understand that the theory surrounding all this is pretty vague and not straightforward, so if you find it difficult to accept the fact that someone can have faith in "love" or "humanity", then I'll find trying to explain this very difficult. But here goes anyway.

It is my belief that one must have faith or belief in something in order to justify existence on this planet. We live in a world with an astronomical amount of unsolvable troubles and problems and, like spacemonkey explained, if you lose yourself and can't fathom the massive problems the wide world contains and thus lose all hope and descend into despair, you will find your life empty and this will stand naked before the terrible status the world is in, and probably won't be able to handle it. I mean, this world is filled to the brim with absolute shit, encompassing everywhere and everyone.

But if you manage to find that one reason to live and hold fast and strong to it, have faith and belief and confidence in it, then the troubles of the world will seem trivial because you have a reason to exist. This belief can be in pretty much anything you can imagine. You can have belief in public service and do something like persue a career as a doctor or volunteer as a human rights activist and help people in need in places like Africa. You can have belief in family and devote your life to raising one - have you never met anyone with kids who says that "without their kids, their life is empty?" That's the kind of faith I'm talking about. This COULD also mean having faith in a superior being, be it God or other deities, that justify your reason to exist on this planet because they would want you to. The danger with religion, though, is that it is too easy to base it on fear and not on love and thus sink into the extreme. Many Christians I know and in general people of faith are actively religious but do not accept all aspects of dogma; they don't blindly follow their leaders but rather question and assess and choose the aspects of their faith and religion that make them feel good about their life and their existence.

An example from the movie is the short-haired woman from the beginning. Her faith in her love for her children allows her to get over her fear and go out into the mist - and in the end of the film, we see her alive with her children among the survivors.

[spacemonkey]

The danger with religion, though, is that it is too easy to base it on fear and not on love and thus sink into the extreme. Many Christians I know and in general people of faith are actively religious but do not accept all aspects of dogma; they don't blindly follow their leaders but rather question and assess and choose the aspects of their faith and religion that make them feel good about their life and their existence.

I agree with you Monotreme, you have to hold on to something to give meaning to your life. Problem is that more often then not people turn to religion to fill that void. What really irks me about that is that people just take whatever a religion tells them for granted. Oh so you say we go to heaven when we die? Oh fine, thats the way it is. Oh so every animal on the planet fit into this boat that one man built with the help of his wifes and daughters...sure. Am I supposed to just take those stories as real? As if they really happened? HELL NO! Like you said in your last post, you have to question. Problem is, that with any religion, if you start to question and doubt it will most likely be seen as something negative, and they will look at you as a danger to the rest of the proverbial herd. They might even shun you if you start showing signs of doubt. Thats the problem with religion, they dont like for you to ask to many questions...you might contaminate the rest of the flock with that spirit of doubt, and that is something they really dont like.

What do they base their arguments and beliefs on? Who says we go to heaven if we die? Who says theres a fiery hell? The bible? The bible is a mess, it contradicts its self so many times its not funny and its so open to interpretation, that I dont blame the fact that theres so many different christian factions all over the world. Each with its own interpretation of the "holy book". If I was god, Id make a book that people would understand with clear and direct guidelines as to how to live life, where we came from and where we go after we die. Not this vague generalistic and contradictory nature that the bible has.

Its just that people respect that book so much because of its "holy" status that they are even afraid to question it. Which is a brilliant way of having people under control. And then we can go in to a whole discussion as to how religion is used to control the masses, and about how some political parties take advantage of peoples beliefs to get them to vote for them. Its sick. It really is, because on top of having religion selling you lies, you also have others trying to take advantage of your gullability.

Sorry to speak so openly about how I feel about religion in general. But for me its so unreal, it still baffles me how people just completely give in to it. But I guess some people need it. Some people take whatever is given to them without first analizing what they are giving themselves into. And some people choose to exist (or really just dont care) on this planet on the surface of things, without digging deep into the core of things. Without asking questions. Without being inquisitive. Thats how you find out the truth about things. Wait, you say that a snake spoke to Eve? But wouldnt she be absolutely terrafied of a talking snake? Would she even have had a whole conversation with a talking snake? Much less have actually done what they snake told her to do? Just how gullible were the first humans according to the bible? Not to smart apparently? If you take any biblical story and start analizing in this way, you will see just how silly and down right fictional they get. Its almost like reading a fantasy novel. Not to mention that miracles like the ones seen in the bible NEVER occur today. Why? Maybe cause they never really happened and they are just as fictional as that Stephen King novel you just read?


An example from the movie is the short-haired woman from the beginning. Her faith in her love for her children allows her to get over her fear and go out into the mist - and in the end of the film, we see her alive with her children among the survivors.

I loved that scene because for me love for family and friends is way more important than anything any religion has to impose on me. Theres a brillian t scene in The Mist that shows how some religions can make people into cold heartless beings. Theres a scene in which Mrs. Carmody is locked up in the bathroom praying to god, saying how she wants to save some people so she can earn her place at his side...blah blah blah, then in comes Amanda saying she just wants to use the bathroom and she offers her friendship to Mrs. Carmody, to which Mrs. Carmody responds "I have a friend and he is God, I dont need friends like you".

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/dimension_films/stephen_king_s_the_mist/marcia_gay_harden/mist1.jpg

This was a great scene, because it shows how people who completely give in to the fantasy of religion kind of hide in this shell, since they believe so much in this God of theirs, and they can "speak" to him whenever they want (never mind the fact that they can never actually hear him back) they turn into people who actually prefer the "friendship" of an invisible being that they have never even heard or seen or felt, then the honest warm friendship that another human might offer them. People do get transformed by religion if they really give into them. Ive known people who have even rejected whole families because they dont believe in the same religious beliefs as they do. Ive seen people reject life long friendships just because one of them doesnt believe in the same things they do anymore. Ive seen many people transformed into cold heartless beings because of their religious beliefs. And that is just one of the many reasons why I dont back up religion anymore. And one of the many reasons why I love films like this one and Silent Hill and The Wicker Man and many others.. because they expose religion for what it really is.

[spacemonkey]

That's fantastic for you. But I'm disagreeing with the notion that if you don't "believe" in something, there is no reason to live.

Ok I see. I guess wed have to define what you mean by believe. If you mean believing in god or in a particular religious belief, then I agree with you . You dont need to believe in any of that to function in society. This is an idea that I have always been against. Why do people think you cannot live your life properly without the belief in God or religion?

Some people believe that if you dont believe in god and in religion and the laws and limitations that they put on you, that you will turn into an evil person without any morals or guidelines in life. This is utter bullshit. When you no longer have a religion that puts its restrictions and laws on you you can function perfectly well. You just have to switch gears. From having someone tell you what is right and wrong, to you developing that ability for yourself.

For example, you know whats right and wrong. You dont need any religion to tell you that killing is wrong. Or that taking something that isnt yours is wrong. Or being with someone elses wife is wrong. You know that, you feel it. You know that you are violating other peoples rights, and thats when you know something is wrong. When you end up harming or hurting someone else. Be it physically or emotionally. You dont need anybody or anything to tell you that.

You can live your life perfectly well without beliving in any religion. In fact, you can focus your energies on actually living your life and enjoying it. You can have more time to be with your family and friends, and do the things that really matter in life. The uncertainty of the existense of god bugs us...well thats the truth of things. No one has ever heard any voice come from heaven telling them what to do. No one has ever seen the heavens open and god descending upon us mortals. There is no proof that a god exists. So what then? Well, keep living your life and dont even debate it.

But of course, I am always open to the possibility that their might be a god and that I dont know about it. Im not stupid enough to think that I know everything. In fact, theres so much that us humans dont know about the universe and the vastness of it, that who knows, there might be something I dont know and their might be a god floating out there in the emptyness of space. Space is there, I can see it. The Galaxies are there and so are the planets, I can see them, therefore I can believe in them. But is there a God up there somewhere, I dont know. And until the day that we have proof of it arrives, Im not going to spend my life believing in something that I dont even know is real or not. Something Ive never seen or heard or felt.

But I can continue my life just fine without that knowledge. Who knows? Maybe when we die, that will all be revealed or answered but I cant tell you thats the way its going to happen. I sometimes compare life to a David Lynch movie. Its like a big strange mystery, and I like the fact that its a mystery that you have to continue trying to unravel. Until you reach the end, and that big mystery is revealed. Or not. Who knows. :D

[Homyrrh]

I watched this last night, only after reading the stellarcomments it got here on the site. Now, keep in mind that I normally can't stand, almost despise, horror films on the whole. This is for many reasons, which are fairly simple and are also very understandable, even if they aren't agreeable. For example, if I know I'm supposed to be scared by a film going in, I won't be coming out, if that makes sense.

Darabont's 'The Mist' had me altogether surprised and ultimately shocked at the quality, and more specfically the depth of theme, of the picture. Decent plot, acting wasn't disappointing, but we know that's not what mattered.

What was really vital to the film was, as this thread title implies, its "religious overtone". Now, to be entirely personal, I do observe a Christian faith, to some degree between Richard Dawkins and Bill Graham (or the lawyer and Mrs. Carmody, if you please). I am also of a very scientific, logical school of thought as well, which creates some obvious conflict. I believe organized religion is an ideology that becomes malevolent when/because its "members" exercise agendas. Consider the Crusades. Consider 9/11.

'The Mist' was, more than any other film I've seen, an incredible depiction of religious and secular struggle, one that's really not been surpassed by anything else I've viewed. Monotreme, the original poster here, was very sensible in his original posts, and I must respect the opinions hereforth posted following that.

Personally, when viewing the movie, I could've counted a half-dozen or so moments or periods or themes or allegories that truly presented an indistinct religious conflict. MGH’s character, Mrs. Carmody, obviously made the film what it was, and again, even I as a man of faith, have to agree very much with Darabont/King’s seeming point that organized religion can and sometimes/often will lead to distortions and manipulations for, as I mentioned, personal gains and agendas. Lord Acton famously noted that “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, words notably and perfectly illustrated by ‘The Mist’.

Of course, though the five, well, “seculars” managed to leave, they’re ultimately doomed in any case, four of them by death, the last by what should become absolute mental and emotional trauma. This has obvious allusions to something I believe Monotreme also noted, and that is that the polarity of Old Testament fringism and complete and total lack of faith is very much a dangerous thing. The five percent on either end, as the film implies, are ultimately, for lack of better term, lost…in the mist.

Most of what Mrs. Carmody and her followers did and said were very much void of, or manipulations of scripture. For one, if the Lord’s judgement were REALLY cast down upon the world in Armageddon, the Apocalypse, the End of Days, the Rapture if you will, then she would’ve theoretically already been selected for salvation and not endured the evil plagues and smitings from Above. Also, there is obviously no place for judgement or violence, let alone murder (i.e.- of the local Army recruit) as is cited MULTIPLE times in the Bible.

Just as another note too, I’d recommend one of the few King books I’ve downed, ‘Needful Things’, which mildly portrays religious strife in a much milder, literal context.

[spacemonkey]

Now, to be entirely personal, I do observe a Christian faith, to some degree between Richard Dawkins and Bill Graham (or the lawyer and Mrs. Carmody, if you please). I am also of a very scientific, logical school of thought as well, which creates some obvious conflict. I believe organized religion is an ideology that becomes malevolent when/because its "members" exercise agendas. Consider the Crusades. Consider 9/11.

Richard Dawkins, I read his book "The God Delusion" and it made many good points. But I didnt agree with every single one of them, cause I like to keep an open mind about the idea of god. Like I mentioned before, Im open to the possibility of a superior being, Richard Dawkins is 100% atheist.


'The Mist' was, more than any other film I've seen, an incredible depiction of religious and secular struggle, one that's really not been surpassed by anything else I've viewed.

Have you seen Silent Hill or The Brotherhood of the Wolf? Both of them (both from the same french director Christophe Gans) are openly anti-religious. Id suggest the original Wicker Man as well.

even I as a man of faith, have to agree very much with Darabont/King’s seeming point that organized religion can and sometimes/often will lead to distortions and manipulations for, as I mentioned, personal gains and agendas. Lord Acton famously noted that “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, words notably and perfectly illustrated by ‘The Mist’.

Agree completely. So much power over the lives of so many people shouldnt be bestowed upon anyone. People should be allowed to freely choose the own course of their lives. Dont know if youve seen the documentary Jesus Camp...but my god, the way goverment puts its hand in manipulating religious groups is astounding. I wasnt aware this happened in this matter until I saw this incredibly objective documentary.


Of course, though the five, well, “seculars” managed to leave, they’re ultimately doomed in any case, four of them by death, the last by what should become absolute mental and emotional trauma. This has obvious allusions to something I believe Monotreme also noted, and that is that the polarity of Old Testament fringism and complete and total lack of faith is very much a dangerous thing. The five percent on either end, as the film implies, are ultimately, for lack of better term, lost…in the mist.

This doesnt mean that if you dont have faith your going to end up like the five secular characters in the film. Living without a religious faith is not a dangerous thing. But if you are an religionless person (such as myself) and you do not believe in an all powerful all problem solving god up in heaven who can make all things right and give you hope, you do have to be careful not to fall into a desperation, which is what the movie was showing.

I believe the movie showed what happened to the secular characters as an example of what you shouldnt do. It was making a point. I dont think that everyone who doesnt believe in god or doesnt go to church would rather die then face the horrors of the world, but since you do not have the comforting easy answers that the bible offers, then you have to find a certain logic (your own logic I guess) that will allow you to function without falling into dispair. You focus your energies and thoughts on other things, you try and do as much as you can to make your life and the world you live in better. You move forward even though theirs huge problems out in the real world (portrayed in the film by the gigantic creatures seen in the climactic moments of The Mist) rather then letting everything fall in the hands of an invisible god.

This point was also shown in a much older yet equally symbolic film called The Wizard of Oz. Did Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tinman and the Scarecrow blow their brains out when they found out that the all powerful Wiz (God) was really just a man (religion)? Nope. They got angry at the liar, but then they forgave him and kept on living their lives in oz and on earth respectively.


Most of what Mrs. Carmody and her followers did and said were very much void of, or manipulations of scripture.

Which is the problem for me with the bible. Its so vague and generalistic with its arguments, that someone is always going to see it under a different light. Someone will always look at a certain scripture in a different way, give it their own twist and make it their own so that it can prove the points that they want to put across. Why is the bible such an incoherent mess? Shouldnt something that comes directly from the most powerful being on earth (and one thats supposed to understand us better then anybody) have created a book that was more direct with its ideas, and easier to understand?

Hey Homyrrh, I dont mean to disrespect in any way and Im sorry if any of my previous post seem a little harsh its just that this a subject matter that touches me very deeply and Ive always been extremely interested in the subject of religion as a social phenomenon. I find it fascinating, but at the same time recognize its darkness.

[Shockwave]

I really didnt give a shit about how the movie did/didnt slam organized religion as much as how, like the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD films, it shows people are often the same/or worse then the monsters they face.

The tag line for the movie was "FEAR CHANGES EVERYTHING" wasnt it? Any source of hope can help someone take over in that type of situation.

RELIGION in general can be used for good or bad, like most things in life. Its all up to the person.


I was always a big fan of "Be a good person because its the right things to do." Dont blame god for the random bad shit in your life, but dont thank him whenever random good stuff happens either. I always thought about him as a silent observer. Planting seeds and watching them grow, but not lending aid or hurting the cycle either way.

[dennisv]

Saw this last night and I was REALLY dissapointed with the ending. I saw it a mile away. oy. Don't see what was the whole hype about it. Fuck the internet.

[spacemonkey]

I really didnt give a shit about how the movie did/didnt slam organized religion as much as how, like the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD films, it shows people are often the same/or worse then the monsters they face.

The tag line for the movie was "FEAR CHANGES EVERYTHING" wasnt it? Any source of hope can help someone take over in that type of situation.


I guess you can see it as people in tight situations are often times worse then the monsters they face. But the obvious religious themes the movie addresses are too "in your face" to ignore. At a certain point, Id say it becomes quite obvious that this is exactly what the film is about.

When the movie uses the tagline "Fear changes everything", its addressing the fact that fear is one of the main out of many tools that religion uses to manipulate people. It is through fear of going to hell, fear of demons, fear of godly judgment that religions can control their parishioners. Dont have sex if your not married or your going to hell....dont do this or dont do that or else your going to hell...dont watch horror movies or demons are coming in to your house....dont dont dont, and its all through fear. Do what god tells you to do, what the church tells you to do or you are not going to heaven...Fear is the central point that makes religion function.

You cant really watch this movie and ignore those issues that it constantly addresses. Though I guess you can enjoy it on a lesser level (alien monsters, cool science fiction premise, a town in peril) youd be missing the main point that the filmakers are really trying to put across.

[Monotreme]

Yeah, just wanted to pipe in and emphasize that I agree with pretty much all that's been said here. It's important to note that many secular people believe in god; not everyone who believe in an all-powerful supreme being that pulls the strings of everything that occurs on this planet are necessarily actively religious. The film isn't commenting on belief in god, it's commenting on the times when religion gets to a situation like the one depicted in, for example, Jesus Camp; when the religious outlet is used as a tool for mass-manipulation and control, and fear is used to advance an agenda. It's the same thing with the Islamic extremism. I believe that organized religion is dangerous and manipulative, but lacking something that gives you a reason to live will leave you a big empty void.

I also agree with Shockwave in that it can be interpreted that the film delivers a broader message that people are just as bad as the monsters they face. It's an interesting expansion on the social/religious/political message of the film; basically, all the monsters in the mist, which represent the problems that plague our world, are just as cruel and mean and, well, monstrous as the people trapped inside the supermarket.

And to dennisv; this film is one of the classic cases of the twist ending not at all being the crux of the movie. The religious overtones and the message were most prominent in the middle part, with the supermarket. The ending is trivial but adds to the message; still, I find it hard to believe that you were 100% sure regarding the ending. That shot with David standing by the car with the wall of mist ahead of him... you can guess whatever you want but ultimately, ANYTHING could have come out of that mist. And besides, the twists and turns of the events leading up to the ending are just as suspenseful and intriguing regarding "what will happen next?"

Really, really excellent film, I was just totally caught off guard by it!

[Shockwave]

When the movie uses the tagline "Fear changes everything", its addressing the fact that fear is one of the main out of many tools that religion uses to manipulate people. It is through fear of going to hell, fear of demons, fear of godly judgment that religions can control their parishioners. Dont have sex if your not married or your going to hell....dont do this or dont do that or else your going to hell...dont watch horror movies or demons are coming in to your house....dont dont dont, and its all through fear. Do what god tells you to do, what the church tells you to do or you are not going to heaven...Fear is the central point that makes religion function.

.


I just saw the religion aspect as a way for a nut to take power, not like the movie was screaming 'ALL RELIGION IS BAD! FUCK ALL RELIGION!"

The tagline was "fear changes everything", not "religion changes everything."

Its like the biker said to Mrs. Carmody before heading outside- "Its not that i dont beleive in god, i just dont think hes the blood thirsty ass-hole u make him out to be"


Much like how many dictators take over, Carmody gained power by fear and offering 'hope" to those that had none. I dont think it was an assualt against religion as much as showing how people can turn into monsters themselves in the right situation, and how evil can take many forms.

I alos found it funny that the people in the store probably lived, while those that went outside died a shitty death.

[Monotreme]

This film definitely features an excellent example of a tagline totally serving the message of the film, just like American Beauty ("Look closer") and There Will Be Blood ("When Ambition Meets Faith"), for two examples. Because at the end of the day, fear is the ultimate test of faith. It is fear that twists Mrs. Carmody's religious ramblings into a legitimate escape for the other patrons of the supermarket who don't have anything else to latch on to that can help them face the fear. And it is fear that eventually leads David and the gang to give into despair and hopelessness at the end. It's true that Mrs. Carmody's banding together of the supermarket patrons can be viewed as any charismatic leader taking advantage of fear in order to promise hope to the hopeless, but I think that the Mr. Norton character also exists as a nother category of this, although he doesn't take advantage of the people's fear but rather their doubt. Still, I think that the use of Mrs. Carmody as a religious figure is not for no reason; as has been mentioned; criticism of organized religion is a theme featured in many of Stephen King's works.

[Homyrrh]

Spacemonkey, my post was dually personal and objective, not any real reply to feelings evoked by any or all of your posts. As for your reply, I'll just say a lot of your words are agreeable, but realize that while I say I am, and am, a man of faith, I still am distinctly embittered by the ultimate failure of organized religion.

Please remember everyone, Christianity is, by its inherent definition, entirely about following the Christ, Jesus, and not about many of the distortions and organizations present today. By loving my neighbor as myself, I am doing this, and not by stabbing wrongly-convicted kids in the gut...as the Bible holds, only He above can judge.

But I really would prefer not to get too deep into a theological colloquium here, just a few thoughts. In all, I'm your atypical Christian, conservative yet critical :-)

[spacemonkey]

It is fear that twists Mrs. Carmody's religious ramblings into a legitimate escape for the other patrons of the supermarket who don't have anything else to latch on to that can help them face the fear.


But the interesting part is that Mrs. Carmody was misinformed. What was really going on in the world had nothing to do with gods judgment but with interdimensional creatures passing on to our world and wrecking havock. This aspect of the film was used to illustrate how often times religious leaders will take advantage of a world event or situation to make it look like its the end of days or whatever, when in fact thats not the reality of it at all. Its just that fucked up things happen in the world, and you gotta deal with them. Not get people even more scared and stressed by mixing everything with some biblical end of days mumbo jumbo. Which is exactly what happend in the film, Mrs. Carmody didnt bring hope, she brought fear and desperation. People that latched on to her because of her "guidance" were infused with that.

In my opinion she made things worse. Instead of making people feel better, her religious "judgment day" connections made by Mrs. Carmody only made people more scared and paranoid. So was it bringing hope to the people or more desperation? William Sadlers character was interesting...at first he doesnt believe, then he sees the "demons" and he turns to religion for hope. But Mrs. Carmodys twisted religious guidence didnt help much, it only turned him into a viscious religious fanatic.

I think that the Mr. Norton character also exists as a nother category of this, although he doesn't take advantage of the people's fear but rather their doubt. Still, I think that the use of Mrs. Carmody as a religious figure is not for no reason; as has been mentioned; criticism of organized religion is a theme featured in many of Stephen King's works.

He was acting like a political leader who is ignoring the true problems of the world. He only wanted to see things his way and his way alone. While the reality was another. Much like political leaders today who choose to ignore the issues that really matter like for example, global warming, oil as the primary means of energy, the environment...and so many more that I could mention that political leaders are doing next to nothing about!

As for Stephen King criticizing organized religion in previous work, you can go as far back as Stephen Kings Carrie. Carries mother was also a religious fanatic, she drove Carrie insane and didnt allow her to develop into a helthy normal young girl. Even though she had these crazy special abilities, Carrie's bringing up would have gone much smoother had she not been raised by her crazy bible totting mom.

[spacemonkey]

I just saw the religion aspect as a way for a nut to take power, not like the movie was screaming 'ALL RELIGION IS BAD! FUCK ALL RELIGION!"


Exactly. With this film, King and Darabont are really criticizing the type of religions that take advantage of peoples fears for their own benefit. They are also criticizing fanaticism in religion, as evidenced by the biker guy, its okay to believe in god, but its not okay to become a religious fanatic who will fill peoples minds and hearts with fear at a time when thats the least thing they need.

In fact, Im pretty sure that biker guy that appears in the film does not go to church every sunday, yet there he is in the film, beliving in god. So Im guessing that one of the things they are trying to say is its okay to believe in god, without necesarilly going to any religious denomination that will dictate to you how your life is going to go.

Im thinking that what they are really saying its okay to believe in a higher power (cause even that biker believed in a higher power) just dont become a fanatical, cold hearted, blinded by religion fanatic. What they are obviously oposing the most is really cult like religions like the ones referenced in the film. Jim Jones and his Koolaid, or David Korech in Waco Texas or anyother type of cult religion that turns their followers into mindless, cold hearted, fanatical drones.

[Shockwave]

I think the biker guy stood out to me because his line of thinking seemed to along the lines of my own.

Im a fan of religion and the good it can do, but fell away from organzied religion in my teens due to all the hypocrits and bible thumpers in my own church. Some of the best AND worst people ive ever met has been at a church.

Its certainly a worthy topic of debate, and i do agree that its one of the things that makes the movie work so well.