Darabont directed the King stories The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile and now completes the hat trick with an intense, unexpectedly absorbing adaptation of The Mist. 

On one level, it is a typical scary movie as a small backwater of America is engulfed by billowing clouds of mist that seem to contain the kind of many-tentacled terrors that only exist in cheesy old B-movies. The sub-par special effects do nothing to dispel this notion.

A group of terrified citizens take refuge in a supermarket and the film moves to a different level as it explores the way the fear of the unknown unleashes the deep personal insecurities within the group and sets neighbour against neighbour.

Marcia Gay Harden gives a great performance as vile religious fanatic Mrs Carmody, Toby Jones is a welcome presence as supermarket employee Ollie and Thomas Jane is very believable as sane, caring family man David Drayton.

The picture has an unusual bleakness that gives it an edge over standard horror fare as dark fantasy is delivered with roots firmly placed in uncomfortable everyday reality.

(Cert. 15; 127 mins)

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