Had to choose between two endings for 'The Mist' and I finally picked the wrong one

I used to swear by the movie's original ending where Thomas Jane shoots everyone. Thought it was brutal and perfect. But last week I rewatched it with my buddy who edits film for a living and he broke down why the novella's open ending works better. He pointed out that King's version leaves you hoping for maybe a rescue, which is more true to how people actually cope. I fought him on it for an hour but then I sat with it for a couple days. Now I think I prefer the book ending after all. Has anyone else switched sides on a famous alternate ending after someone talked you through it?

2 comments

2 Comments

iris_stone281mo ago

Bring up how the movie ending actually ruins the whole point King was making about human nature. The novella doesn't give you that clean gut punch because King wanted to show that people will cling to any shred of hope even when it's stupid. The movie turns it into this macho tragedy where the hero makes the call and it backfires, but King's version is more about how fear and uncertainty mess with your head long after the monsters are gone. Your buddy's right - the open ending respects that real life doesn't hand you perfect tragic irony on a silver platter.

rileygonzalez26d ago

Honestly, @iris_stone28, somebody get this movie a therapist for its unresolved daddy issues!