Upon first watching The Mist, I was blown away. It was definitely one of the better movies I had watched recently. At the time, had I written a review, the film would have been rated a must see. And although the emotional impact of that first viewing lingers on, watching the film a second time lessened it.
A lot of the tension I felt when watching The Mist was a result of not knowing the ultimate fate of the cast of characters. So when watching it again, although it was still enjoyable to watch from a more technical point of view, the film was significantly less emotionally engaging. Which is to say, I still enjoyed watching the action/horror elements, and could better evaluate the varied character interactions (some of which still chill to the bone, notably any time Mrs. Carmody sermonized or even opened her mouth). However, I found the film wasn't schlock full of enough visceral thrills, or deep enough character interactions to really hold my attention. Perhaps the mix of action and dialogue intensive character-driven conflict prevented me from staying engaged, instead forcing me to constantly switch gears. Perhaps it was knowing everyone's fate which made me not care. Whatever happened, I just wasn't as engaged the second time around.
Is it still a good movie? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it? Without a doubt. Is it worth dropping $20 to own a copy? No. The film is a one trick pony. You watch it once, enjoy it, and then archive it. You can get more out of it from subsequent viewings, but on a much more intellectual, film student level. The emotional ride which made the film worth seeing is all but gone the second time around.
Overall, I was disappointed with the second viewing, except for the gratitude I felt at having only rented it.
Make no mistake though: If you haven't watched The Mist yet, you should. The first viewing will be one you don't regret.
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