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The Mist

(2007, Rated R, Horror, Starring Andre Braugher, Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Fear reigns in so-so Stephen King monster flick.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Characters have a range of responses to the mist/monsters, including nobility, selfishness, fear, and courageousness. Teachers and parents are brave, a militantly religious woman rouses the crowd to blame and attack others.
  • Violence:

    Lots of bloody violence, most committed by monsters against humans (the reptilian, buggy, dinosaur-like baddies are fond of ripping victims' guts out and faces off). Man with bloody face describes scary encounter, causing a young boy to cry and go into shock. Several scenes show parents holding frightened children. Young man is dragged out a door, screaming and fearful, bloodied and wounded during the process. Man on fire later appears badly burned. Man is cut in half, his bloody legs and entrails left behind. Monster spiders wrap victims in webs; one body breaks open to let loose cascades of creepy baby spiders. Man stabs another repeatedly. Suicide victims (hanging). Woman urges crowd to deliver a horrified victim to the monsters. Woman bitten by a giant bug swells up horrifically before she dies. Weapons wielded by humans -- against each other and the monsters -- include axe, gun, and fire (torches and aerosol can). A couple of alarming shooting scenes resulting in bloody injuries, splatter, and upsetting deaths.
  • Sex:

    Brief cleavage shot. Brief kissing between designated cute young couple, in close-up.
  • Language:

    Includes several uses of "f--k" (some with "mother"), lots of "s--t"s and fewer instances of "ass," "hell," "bitch" (with "son of a"), and anatomically inspired expletives ("c--ksucker," "p---y").
  • Consumerism:

    Assorted products visible in the grocery store, including Budweiser beer and Snyder's pretzels, as well as generic cans and paper.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Soldier smokes a cigarette, indicating his worry. Addled mechanics drink beer and get visibly drunk.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Mist

Parents need to know that this Stephen King-inspired horror film features monsters (who proceed to rip up bodies), unseen threats, and bloody injuries and deaths. People use axes and guns against the monsters and also hurt each other (shooting, hitting, stabbing). There's intense suspense that could make younger kids very anxious, as well as several suicides -- and the final scene is especially upsetting. One scene shows cigarette smoking, and a few characters get visibly drunk. Language includes multiple uses of "f--k," plus other profanity.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how people respond to being scared. Why do you think the characters react the way they do? How do you think you'd react in a high-stress situation? And, speaking of being scared, why do you think people are drawn to scary movies? What's the appeal of being frightened in the theater? What's scarier -- threats you can see, or those you can't? Why?

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Our Members Say

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  •  I think this movie is

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See all 25 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great for kids 14+ up, make sure to point out the morals

    This was a great film, I see that many of the reviews on this say that the ending was terrible, i would have to disagree. In the end a old couple a man and his son and girlfriend are escaping the city in their car only to run out of gas surrounded with monsters. Everyone believes that they are going to be killed slowly from the inside out as a man did earlier in the movie so he uses the four last bullets to kill (with consent) them. After killing his son and girlfriend he leaves the safety of his car to die at the hands of the monsters. Second later military vehicles roll past with soldiers. The moral people of the story that many people have seamed to miss is to never give up, even if only thing that awaits you is death.

  2. I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Dispite what you other people say

    You may have noticed how many negative points I gave it, and one positive. Well it’s true. This movie I feel is not so much about fear; it’s more about the horror inside human beings being fueled by fear. The people in this movie do a “Lord of the Flies”, turning from normal everyday people to savage, violent, monsters. The movie starts out after a storm. A father and his son go into town to buy some groceries, when a mysterious mist sweeps through, heavier than in Silent Hill (videogame). The movie was meant to be scary from the excessive gore. At one point, you see half of a severed body, and a person that still alive when insects burst from inside and start to eat him. I don’t think that’s what made the movie scary; I mean sure, being fourteen and seeing this gore wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for me. But what really made me terrified was the way the people acted in this movie and their choices. This yet again points to lord of the flies, take away civilized influence, (but in this case inject in fear in the mixture), and people fall apart, following anyone who promises salvation, no matter how insane they are. The ending also made my mouth drop open. M’ not going to tell you what it was, but it wasn’t “and they lived happily ever after”. I think this movie is worth watching at least once.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    Movie is pretty good throughout except for the ending. kinda ruins it. except tells to never give up. pretty scary. the monsters are not, but there is one lady who makes a couple scenes pretty scary. at least for me. pretty bloddy. matters how your kids can take scry movies. i would say a mature 13 year old could see it and a less mature starting at about age 16

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    Movie is pretty good throughout except for the ending. kinda ruins it. except tells to never give up. pretty scary. the monsters are not, but there is one lady who makes a couple scenes pretty scary. at least for me. pretty bloddy. matters how your kids can take scry movies. i would say a mature 13 year old could see it and a less mature starting at about age 16

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 2.0

    SUCKY ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    WTF?!? Lol, JK. But seriously, the ending sucked.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    This movie is simply not for kids but I think that adults and teenagers will not be bored by any of the scary, violent, and obscene moments that happen throughout it.

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    not the best movie.

    not scary, but bloody and has a lot of bad language. it was an ok movie but the ending was soooooooo stupid and the people in it have no common sense, but overall if your not scared easily than go ahead.

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    You'll hate it if you have read the book, but if not, you'll love it

    Strong graphic horror violence and very strong language, plus smoking and drinking. A man attempts suicide and kills his poor innocent son and other poeple. NOT FOR KIDS. Consumerism: will get kids interested in the book, which is for adults only.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism

    Cheesy but in a fun way!

    the special effects in the movie were cheesy but its a very fun movie for teens to watch with friends

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    i thought that overall the Mist was a pretty good movie. It was well, written and, for the most part, well acted. I thought that the ending, although extremely upsetting, was very creative on Stephen kings part. I plan on reading the mist now that i've seen the movie. i think this movie is fine for anyone over 15.

  11. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    great movie

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

    y?

    my sister n her friend were watching this so i joined thm. this movie came from steven king. i heard hes like an amazing horrer writer so im like thiss is gona b good. but i was wrong. it was enetertaining but the ending was HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!! its ws nothing like the book. he just kills the old lady n man n the girl n his son. thn he gets out of the car n the mist dissapears.

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 1.0

    I CAN'T STAND THIS TERRIBLE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The action and violants is pritty intense in it and it keeps you watching. There are a bunch of deaths including one lady dying from taking to many pills. (Spoiler) If you are planning on watching this then plan on turning it off RIGHT the people get into the car. It includes the bloody death of lots of people INCLUDING the bloody death of a child! The end is sad and bleak! DO NOT WHATCH THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    Waste of Money!! TERRIBLE ENDING!!!

    This movie was a waste of time. I felt like the movie was choppy at times, some of the acting was bad, and it wasn't scary at all. If that was what they were going for, they didn't accomplish it. The ending was horrible. As a parent it made me sick to think that they would end it like that. They could have come up with a better ending if they really wanted too. Now I know why this was a blockbuster video exclusive....No other places wanted it!!!

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 2.0

    not good for young kids

    this is a test

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 4.0

    A good book for someone who is board and needs a good adventure!!

    I really dont want to ruin the book for you but all i can relly say is that it is on eof the best books i have ever read!! -lovcandy906

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    i liked it. it was scary!!

    personally, i did not get to see the whole film, but my cousin told me what i missed (the ending) from what i saw....well i was so scared i was shaking in my seat! i thought it was wonderful and the special effects were great. i dont like how adults are bashing it, just cause of some curse's and it didnt scare them. kids loved it. adults ned to loosen up. i heard it wasnt like the book, but that is ok. not all movie have to follow the book. i must say though, my cousin told me the ending and i was disappionted. i didnt not like the VERY ending. i thought it was wrong, but it actully fit with the plot, and the insanity.

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    Had to go home and watch a Hallmark Channel movie to recover

    I love Stephen King! Until this movie. Terrible acting, way too much language, and as a parent the end was sick. Big space bugs...... Not scary or believable. King's genius lies in his ability to scare us with what is possible, e.g. Cujo. Oh well, the popcorn was good.

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    daddy lond legs 11 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    this movie is awesome you have to go see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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