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Originally Posted by SquidPuppet
I honestly believe that the film tried to depict that the characters believed it WAS the end of the world, hence the extreme decision. Now, if that attempt failed in your eyes, thats fine, but I think thats what Darabont was aiming for. The characters thought it was all over.
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True. It was the characters
[Show spoiler]that were convinced of that after running out of gas. I just wasn't convinced, nor did I believe it was a suitable turn of character and judgment.
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And I certainly cant agree with the comparison to The Road. If you truly believe that one should never give up,
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Like I said, given the most extreme circumstances, I could see it as legitimate. The decision in The Mist was not justified by the rest of the film.
I used that comparison because The Road is a literal post-apocalyptic setting with a father and son in desperation... trying to survive. I agree that in The Mist, it was all in their heads. Their only perspective was the storefront and town
[Show spoiler](and his wife's death)
because the mist hid them away from the world. That brings with it a distortion in perspective, but there was no indication of doubt or the abandonment of hope.
[Show spoiler]The biggest risk they take is driving into the mist. That's it. Apparently that's enough to make that kind of decision for his son.
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then that holds true for Viggos character as well. [Show spoiler]One day a big wind could arrive and the sun could peek through. With the sun comes the possibility (probability) of plantlife, and with that the ability to raise livestock and fish. He is only one man, just like Janes character, in one small geographic location at a time. He only knows what is in his immediate surroundings. With telecommunications destroyed (both films) they are left with only their own imagination, paranoia, fear, faith and strengths.
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Yes, there was a lot going on in his head too. He would think about his wife and was forced to eat whatever he could scavenge. Both men were driven mad for different reasons. But The Road centered on his level of sanity. It was a direct focus of the film. And the gun represented a sense of security and certainty. They didn't have much left in the world, but they still had choice. Thus, those particular intentions contributed to the film significantly. The Mist gives no indication of any lapse of sanity or judgment on the part of the character. Jane is facing a cataclysmic and mysterious force beyond the mist and keeps pushing forward the entire film.
[Show spoiler]How long does it take to run out of gas? How much time and effort did they take actually trying to survive? If help was anywhere near, shouldn't it arrive eventually? It never did in The Road, thus group suicide will inevitably be contemplated at the least. But hope for the eventual arrival of help alone is worth looking for a safer hideout. They abandoned hope much too easily and abruptly imo.
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[Show spoiler]Another reason The Road is not a fair comparison is the "villain". Viggo is up against a villain he completely understands. He understands their motives, their thinking, their strategies etc. More importanly, he knows exactly what it takes to defeat his villain. Additionally, he is of equal physical prowess (for all intents and purposes) in a one-on-one duel. There are no mysteries to weigh upon him psychologically. He continues to find food, so it's conceivable that he may also find weapons and ammo one day.
Janes character however, is up against a wide variety of enemies, none of which he has ANY understanding, and all of which appear to be vastly superior killing machines.
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Agreed. But The Road takes place after a much longer and enduring period of time and directly explores faith and hopelessness. In The Mist, you get no indication that Jane is struggling with doubts. Sure, you can see their
[Show spoiler] escape from the store
as desperation, but it was just as much the protagonist's concoction.
[Show spoiler]So their journey "into the mist" is what drove them nuts.
If that was the idea, it suffers from poor execution and delivery.
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[Show spoiler]I think if we are setting a standard for appropriate post apocolyptic parental behavior, then it most certainly should apply to both characters equally.
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Very fair, you have your case. I do disagree though
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you know i had to 
with that being said though, the first day it came out on blu (blind buy) i watched it about 3 times in 2 days. very good stuff. and very underrated film imo.
took me a minute to figure out why she said that 
all we need now is someone to come tell us that Rise of the Machines is there favorite and we'll have a real epidemic on our hands! 
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