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LTJ's Reviews > The Mist
The Mist
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“The Mist” by Stephen King is one of those short stories that I’ve yet to read but always had my eye on it for many years now. I remember seeing clips of the movie adaptation here and there but never in its entirety but do know a ton of Constant Readers love this short story. I knew I’d eventually get to it and my goodness, I’m beyond glad I finally did.
Now, before I begin my review, I have a few trigger warnings for everyone in case you haven’t read “The Mist” yet. There are situations involving a man hitting a woman and suicide. I won’t ruin anything for you but if either subject triggers you, please do not read this.
Moving along, the intro painted a nice picture to start things off and I immediately knew that it wouldn’t be long until King does what he does best and hit me with some genuinely frightening horror. Sure enough, King didn’t disappoint as this whole situation with the mist was really horrific. I think it even hits home more now due to the pandemic that hit in 2020 where I can honestly see what happened in this short story happening in real life.
I’ll never forget the panic people had, how everyone was rushing to hoard food, products, toilet paper, and letting paranoia sink in to start turning on each other. The hysteria of the pandemic was real and in “The Mist” I got all those vibes again. Besides that, the super creepy moments in this short story were incredible as I especially loved the tension leading to the ending. I had no idea how this would end as the buildup was absolutely incredible. It was such a crazy ride 80% in and I couldn’t put this down at all deep into the night because it was that great.
I was on the edge of my seat to see how this would all end and of course, King delivered in a way I didn’t expect. It was exhilarating and once it was over, I was left in awe. It just makes you think, wonder, and encourage a ton of conversations about this ending. This totally reminded me of how King ended “The Colorado Kid” and I loved it since I can’t wait to talk to my fellow Constant Readers about this one in greater detail.
I give “The Mist” by Stephen King a perfect 5/5 as it was a powerhouse of short story horror read. The characters, story, twists, and sheer terror here are all top-notch. It still holds up decades later with another brilliant short story written by the greatest horror author to ever do it. I also thought King’s descriptions of the horror that takes place in “The Mist” were so brilliant, you actually feel what these characters felt and went through in gory detail. Just another mind-blowing, scary, amazing read and if you’ve yet to read this, please learn from me. Don’t wait so long to finally read this masterpiece, it’s awesome and highly recommended. Arrowhead Project was here.
Now, before I begin my review, I have a few trigger warnings for everyone in case you haven’t read “The Mist” yet. There are situations involving a man hitting a woman and suicide. I won’t ruin anything for you but if either subject triggers you, please do not read this.
Moving along, the intro painted a nice picture to start things off and I immediately knew that it wouldn’t be long until King does what he does best and hit me with some genuinely frightening horror. Sure enough, King didn’t disappoint as this whole situation with the mist was really horrific. I think it even hits home more now due to the pandemic that hit in 2020 where I can honestly see what happened in this short story happening in real life.
I’ll never forget the panic people had, how everyone was rushing to hoard food, products, toilet paper, and letting paranoia sink in to start turning on each other. The hysteria of the pandemic was real and in “The Mist” I got all those vibes again. Besides that, the super creepy moments in this short story were incredible as I especially loved the tension leading to the ending. I had no idea how this would end as the buildup was absolutely incredible. It was such a crazy ride 80% in and I couldn’t put this down at all deep into the night because it was that great.
I was on the edge of my seat to see how this would all end and of course, King delivered in a way I didn’t expect. It was exhilarating and once it was over, I was left in awe. It just makes you think, wonder, and encourage a ton of conversations about this ending. This totally reminded me of how King ended “The Colorado Kid” and I loved it since I can’t wait to talk to my fellow Constant Readers about this one in greater detail.
I give “The Mist” by Stephen King a perfect 5/5 as it was a powerhouse of short story horror read. The characters, story, twists, and sheer terror here are all top-notch. It still holds up decades later with another brilliant short story written by the greatest horror author to ever do it. I also thought King’s descriptions of the horror that takes place in “The Mist” were so brilliant, you actually feel what these characters felt and went through in gory detail. Just another mind-blowing, scary, amazing read and if you’ve yet to read this, please learn from me. Don’t wait so long to finally read this masterpiece, it’s awesome and highly recommended. Arrowhead Project was here.
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Reading Progress
November 24, 2022
– Shelved
November 24, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 7, 2023
–
Started Reading
May 7, 2023
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1.0%
May 7, 2023
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20.0%
May 7, 2023
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30.0%
May 8, 2023
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40.0%
May 8, 2023
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50.0%
May 8, 2023
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60.0%
May 8, 2023
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70.0%
May 8, 2023
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80.0%
May 8, 2023
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90.0%
May 9, 2023
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 84 (84 new)
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Tina Reads
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May 09, 2023 03:33PM
I distinctly remember reading The Mist. It scared me so much that I hardly slept for three days after reading it, mind you I was a teenager at the time, but yeah. It's definitely one of King's best novellas.
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@Tina: That's so awesome and yeah, this was such a terrifying read! I agree, this was a powerhouse of a read :-D
A metaphor for when you become, or think you become, familiar with a place or situation, it springs up and grabs you by the neck.
King is very much a post-Viet Nsam, post-Watergate author, LTJ.
@Julio: I love everything he writes :-D
Have you seen The Mist on Netflix? I loved it, though not read the book, but going by other books paired with movies, of his, I’m always never disappointed. King Rocks 🤘🏼 fabulous review Luis 🙂
Fantastic review, Luis!! ZOMG! :D you gave it 5 misty stars! Hell yes, it is such a great story and most definitely deserves that high ranking. I’m so glad you loved it! What was better, the movie, or the books? Add that to the list ;))
I have gotta read this too! I can’t believe I have not! Sounds great. Awesome job.
@Leeanne: I just saw the movie and thought it was awesome! I've only seen bits and pieces of it over the years but finally saw it thanks to Debbie and WOW, I did not see that ending coming at all. I think both were good, different, but good. Awe, thanks for the kind words on my review as that means a lot to hear, and hell yeah! KING ROCKS \m/ :-D
Amazing review, Luis! Your excitement and enjoyment shines through and makes me want to revisit. So glad you had a 5-star thrill ride! = )
@Debbie: Thank you ever so much! LoL 5 MISTY STARS! Hell yeah, I loved this story and honestly, I did enjoy this and the movie. They're different yet checked all the boxes for me. I find that only really Stephen King adaptations do it for me. I genuinely loved IT (the original and the remakes), Misery, and The Shining. All LEGENDARY books with pretty damn good movie adaptations, you know? LoL THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST :-D
@Shainlock: YES! It's definitely worth reading if you haven't yet, LoL just like in my case. Whenever you do, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it :-)Thanks for the compliment!
@Tracy: Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm so glad to hear that you want to re-read this and I don't blame you, it's always going to be worthy of a re-read. I appreciate your compliment as I hope your next cup of coffee or tea is amazing :-)
You're welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it:)) I completely agree, these are some of my favorite adaptations! I still think it's funny how Stephen King didn't like The Shining movie o___O I can understand, though, being so protective over something you created and having a vision of how you'd want it to be adapted. You know The Boogyman movie is coming out this fall? I’ve never read the book, have you?? It's on my list. Speaking of, the list of questions is growing! :D
@Debbie: Ohhhhhhh, great minds think alike! LoL I also loved how King wrote the screenplay for The Shining which I can only imagine how difficult that must have been but he nailed it. YES, I loved that trailer for The Boogeyman and no, not yet! I need to get it unless it's a short story that's part of a collection?This sounds like we could PROBABLY do a buddy read of The Boogeyman over virtual vegan iced coffees and blueberry scones if you'd like...
This story if my memory is correct was the 1st story in skeleton crew (1985) that is where I read it anyway. The reason king hates the 1980 film is because the shining is a very personal book to him you see king is a alcoholic though he's been sober for about 35 years he was a boozer and jack I think was him though he never hurt his kids like jack did danny I don't think they'd speak to him if he did. And the book is pretty much about 2nd chances if you think about it. Jack fights to stay sane and wants his marriage to work and for a long time it did than the management left him those newspapers. The hotel left them not the actual staff. All of this is lost in the 1980 film as much as I love the film the heart of the book isn't there at all. I didn't like the the way the mist the film ended. It was too depressing I think
@Stimpson: Oh wow, that's so interesting and makes a lot of sense to me! Yeah, the ending to The Mist I bet was done for movie audiences so they can get closure. I don't think if they kept the original ending it would be as loved as it is today. Yeah, that ending was wild and very sad!
LTJ wrote: "@Debbie: Ohhhhhhh, great minds think alike! LoL I also loved how King wrote the screenplay for The Shining which I can only imagine how difficult that must have been but he nailed it. YES, I loved ..."I can’t refuse iced coffee… :D I’m in, that should be fun!! :)
The Boogyman is part of the Night Shift collection. I think Children Of The Corn is one of the stories included, but I’m not sure what else. It’d be great to read it before the movie is out:) With The Mist, I read the book after watching the movie and it took away from the reading experience! :(
That book was night shift his first collection from 1978. Yeah kings hatred for the film the shining as much as I love it I do agree with his reasons actually. Kubrick just wanted a horror film. The original ending from what I read would have been a great ending. What is interesting is that danny lloyd had no idea he was making a horror film they protected him from Learning thst while filming apparently. Also ypu can't go wrong with iced coffee
@Debbie: LoL me too, I loved iced coffee, especially when it's freshly brewed and before the ice waters down the coffee... incredible. Ohhhhhhhhh, I read it then because I remember reading Night Shift a while ago, I'll have to refresh my memory BUT I don't mind re-reading it with you before the movie comes out or anything. I'm down! :-)Awe, damn, sorry to hear that and I did the same, in a way. I saw the movie Doctor Sleep and loved it but I've YET to read the novel. I have it on my TBR and plan to read The Shining then Doctor Sleep right after one of these days.
@Stimpson: Ah, perfect, yeah, I read it then but I don't remember it entirely. LoL wow, I never knew that about Lloyd, thanks for that insight! Hell yeah, I love iced coffee as I send you a virtual hazelnut iced coffee :-D
Ltd man I own doctor sleep on 4k I've yet to watch it but I do know it dies not end the same way the book does. So no worries
@Stimpson: Ohhhhhhhh, it's definitely a solid movie and I can't wait to read Doctor Sleep finally!
Ugh I’ve been wanting to read more King. I’m a little intimidated admittedly, though. I feel like a lot of his work ties into each other and I don’t know a safe space to start. I read Pet Sematary when I was like 13, and that’s the only king I’ve read. The movie adaptation of this is amazing! Knowing that’s it s a short story now, I might pick it up. The length of his books also kind of scares me haha.
@Heather: Right? No worries at all and if I can make some suggestions of safe books to start, it would be...- IT
- Misery
- Billy Summers
- Carrie
- Cujo
I loved Pet Sematary and also read it I think at around 16 or 17 and was blown away! Oh hell yeah, the movie was also fantastic and yeah, LoL King likes to write legit tomes that can take a while to read. I hope this helps and happy reading from one Constant Reader to another :-D
1stly I liked pet sematary too but it didn't scare me however if I was a father I'm not I can see how it would scare some. Not all of his books connect but the ones from the past 20 years do. Having said that unless it's obvious like in insomnia you have mike Hanlon from It in a small role. Honestly it doesn't matter where you start some books mention past characters such as in dreamcatcher the book has a statue of the losers club show up if I'm not mistaken. Some of that takes place in derry for example. They are connected to the dark tower which is a must read. But read salams lot 1st because one character shows up in the 5th dark tower book. Not everything is horror either. Some of them you will love and some you will hate much like any author. The 1989 film pet sematary is a classic the remake is a piece of shit.
@Stimpson: Yeah, for sure, besides, any series King does are all labeled so no worries about jumping into something worried it's part of a series. The Dark Tower and that whole Gwendy trilogy I hear are amazing but I'll eventually get to them hopefully by this summer :-)I also LOVED 'Salem's Lot, another great novel and movie. LoL yeah, I only saw the 1989 Pet Sematary, not the remake.
Oh, you've read it, that's great! Sure, if you want to reread it with me, I’m in, lets do it!! :)) Hmm, I wonder if there's a chance to find a copy of The Boogyman separately so the review can focus on it and not the whole collection of stories? 🤔 I've read Doctor Sleep years ago, in this case it was before the movie came out. I wonder what you'll think of the book! :)) Reading with iced coffee makes it better, haha, I love it! :D
Why not read the book that it's in night shift 1978 isn't that long of a book.
@Debbie: Yay!!! I'm excited and sure thing, we'll coordinate when the time comes. I did some research and I can only find The Boogeyman on paperback from Amazon. MAYBE try your local library or bookstore to see if it's there or even if they can order it or something?What did you think of Doctor Sleep? I can't wait to eventually read it and hell yeah, reading and iced coffees go perfect together :-D
@Stimpson: Yeah, I'm definitely going to get to it hopefully soon! LoL me too, Doctor Sleep sounds like it's awesome so will probably add that to my TBR next month or in July :-)
I wil…. Orrrr, I can order it from Amazon :D haha. Ok, I think focusing on the story and not the whole collection will work best in this case :) bring the iced coffee, I’ll bring the cookies :P LOL. :)I enjoyed Doctor Sleep, both movie and book! I’m not going to say much more to keep your reading experience non biased:))
@Debbie: BOOM! LoL that'll work too and yeah, that's what I plan to do and perfect! I GOT YOU WITH THE COFFEE! Thanks ahead of time for the virtual cookies... I love chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, or chocolate fudge cookies. Yeah, I love chocolate...LoL thanks and yeah, Doctor Sleep the movie was awesome and I can't wait to read The Shining then Doctor Sleep for that true experience :-D
Something tells me i should consider... chocolate? Just a guess😅 LOL! Done and done! Ooh, you have The Shining on your reading list?! Exciting! I LOVE this book :) Can't wait to hear what you'll think of it;)))
@Debbie: YES... CHOCOLATE!!! LoL I mean, let's paint (see what I did there?) the picture? Vegan ice cold coffees, warm chocolate chip cookies, Behemoth playing in the background, and reading horror novels?!?!?!Oh yes, I plan to read The Shining and then Doctor Sleep right after PROBABLY in June or July. I read The Shining as a teenager many moons ago but obviously, it's worth a re-read. Forever :-D
LOL! :) this is actually perfect. I’m going to finish one of my current reads this morning while doing exactly that! 🍪 ugh, I love cookies, and I love BEHEMOTH! I am thinking The Satanist ..:)I agree, The Shining is definitely worth a reread. I might do it at some point as well! It was my very first Stephen King book, so I’m a bit sentimental:) I wonder how you’r second reading experiences will be?!?
@Debbie: YES! LoL that's awesome and glad to see the picture come to life! I'm about to head to bed but not until I hit send on... THE DM :-DI love The Satanist, it's perfection so that would totally rock. I'd do that or the re-issue of Grom!
LoL it sounds like we're going to have several buddy reads, we shall organize and coordinate soon! To me on the rare occasions I do a re-read, it's always another unique experience. Mostly because I think I'm older now and am a lot more experienced as a reader than when I was a teenager. LoL no doubt I was probably silly and skipped through stuff!
@Debbie: My first Stephen King novel was IT and I know how you feel about that one...
My first one to read wad either Salams lot I bought the paperback in 1990 at a booksale. The year is written I'm it. The other I The was the dark tower the gunslinger. I used to have to beg my brother to read his books. Why? Because my mom when it came to king left it up to my older brother who is a huge fan of his as well. I'm not reading any king right now though I just finished one on Thursday called blindsight (2001) by karin slaughter her grant county books that was number #1 my only complaint was the reveal of the killer was poorly done. I'm on the 2nd one now about 33% into it since is an ebook. And it's called kisscut (2002) a really good one so far the first one I really loved.
I've read the shining a few times but not in years I have the yellow paperback of it came out in (2001) its near mint I think and there was a website I saw on how rare that one is. A friend gave it to me years ago and I never got around to reading it thank God. I think I read a few pages but that was before I found out it's rare
LTJ wrote: "@Debbie: My first Stephen King novel was IT and I know how you feel about that one..."Oh, I remember you told me! LOL, how I feel about clowns is a very important piece of information for you to have! :)))
@Stimpson: That's so awesome and yeah, 'Salem's Lot is such a powerhouse of a read. LoL when I first read it many moons ago, I had no idea it was a vampire novel, I thought it would be a haunted house or evil ghosts novel. I haven't heard of that series but I hope you enjoy it, happy reading :-D
@Debbie: LoL oh yes, I believe it and don't worry, ANY kind of clown book I'll be sure to give you the heads up in case since I know how you feel about them :-)
Yeah if you love a good mystery though she can get graphic when she describes the dead bodies. Anyway I knew Salams lot was a vampire story cause I said the great (1979) made for tv film which I own on bluray. Anyway years and years ago at some point in the early 90s I think? My mom's aunt I think? My great aunt had that on vhs and it was from its original broadcast I believe I still have that as my brother gave it too me when he later moved out. If you own it on bluray the print looks pretty damn good I think but the one thing you can tell is when the younger brother comes through the window in some shots you can see the strings it's very funny I think
@Stimpson: That's pretty awesome and hell yeah, I remember watching 'Salem's Lot as a kid and loved it. LoL it was scary but didn't horrify me as The Exorcist did. Ohhhhhhhhh, I bet it looks AMAZING on VHS, especially for nostalgic value!
I haven't watched it in years on vhs but it looks better on bluray . King is my favorite writer but than I have so many others as well I love. .
@Stimpson: Oh for sure, I'd watch it on VHS for the nostalgia and then on blu ray to enjoy it in a modern way. Hell yeah and same here, King is my all-time favorite author!
I love anne rice, dean koontz , Patricia cornwell. Karim slaughter, education mcbain, John saul. Piers anthony, James patterson. Jeffrey deaver and king, of course just to name a few
