The Mist (2007 film, black and white version watched for review)

If you’ve only seen “The Mist” in color, you haven’t seen “The Mist”. Color, ironically, removes all the personality of the film, dulling its nihilistic tone and bringing out all the blemishes in the special effects, while the black and white version renders its intent, of conveying crushing hopelessness and how humanity can reach that point, clear as day (though, yeah, some of the special effects still look very much of its time, though it’s less noticeable). It even helps the finale; without spoiling, some who watched the theatrical version processed it as unwelcome and discordant. Here, it’s plainly inevitable.

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