A Dangerous Trip to the Store

THE MIST is my favorite short story by Stephen King. I first read it as part of SKELETON CREW (1985). I remember thinking, "It's the perfect length for a movie, without leaving out any details," since movies based on King stories are rarely as good as the books. (However, the movie has a much more brutal ending, in my opinion.) To this day, I'm not quite sure why I love this story so much...maybe the contrast of monsters: the ones outside and the ones inside. If you're a horror fan, you're probably familiar with this story, but, just in case...

Following a monster of a thunderstorm, a mysterious mist spreads across a small town in Maine. People who were shopping at the local grocery store soon realize they need to stay inside. Eventually, the survivors find out about a military experiment called "The Arrowhead Project," which is believed to have brought numerous leviathan creatures into existence.

Of course, the nightmare doesn't truly kick off until the town's religious fanatic forms her own cult within the store, and the people who still have fully-functioning brains realize they need to get the hell out of there, regardless of what is hiding within the mist.

Even if you watched the movie, I'm still recommending this novella. Readers will be able to get to know the main characters on a very personal level, in a way the film could not provide.

As always,
AstraDaemon