Stephen King's The Mist (2007) Ending Explained
tl;dr: The Mist (2007), based on Stephen King's novella, ends with one of the most devastating and controversial conclusions in horror cinema. After surviving monstrous creatures in a mist-covered town, protagonist David Drayton and four companions escape in a car but face dwindling hope. Believing all is lost, David mercy-kills his son and the others to spare them a worse fate-only to witness the military arriving moments later to save the day. The ending is a brutal commentary on despair, faith, and the cruelty of mistimed decisions.
The Final Scene: A Harrowing Twist
The movie's climax sees David, his young son Billy, and three other survivors - Amanda, Irene, and Dan-fleeing in a car as the mist engulfs their town. With no food, dwindling gas, and terrifying creatures lurking outside, David hears a distant, ominous rumbling. Assuming it's another monster, he makes the horrific decision to use his last four bullets to kill everyone in the car, including his son, rather than let them suffer. After sparing himself (having no bullet left), he steps out to face the unknown-only to see military vehicles rolling in, clearing the mist and rescuing survivors. The realization that he acted too soon destroys him, and he collapses in anguish.
Themes: Despair, Faith, and Human Nature
Frank Darabont's adaptation amplifies King's original ending, turning it into a gut-punch about the dangers of hopelessness. Throughout the film, characters grapple with fear and paranoia, particularly Mrs. Carmody, a religious fanatic who preaches sacrifice. David, a rational man, ultimately succumbs to the same despair he resisted, mirroring how extreme circumstances warp judgment. The ending forces viewers to question: Would I have held on just a little longer? It's a bleak reflection on how easily humanity breaks under pressure and how quickly hope can vanish.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- What was the military's plan?
- They might have been systematically clearing zones, arriving just too late for David's group.
- Alternatively, they could've been delayed by their own battles with the creatures.
- Was the mist supernatural or scientific?
- The film hints at a military experiment gone wrong (the "Arrowhead Project"), but leaves it ambiguous.
- Religious interpretations (Mrs. Carmody's prophecies) are debunked but linger thematically.
- Why did David not wait longer?
- Psychological exhaustion: days of terror eroded his rationality.
- The sounds outside mimicked monster noises, tricking him.
Stephen King vs. Darabont's Ending
King's original novella ends ambiguously, with the survivors driving into an uncertain future. Darabont's decision to change it shocked even King, who praised its boldness. While King's version fits his theme of enduring horror, Darabont's twist sharpens the story into a tragic fable about the cost of giving up. The film's ending lingers precisely because it's unfair—life rarely offers clean resolutions, and sometimes salvation is cruelly close yet out of reach.
Personal Opinion: A Masterpiece of Horror
The Mist's ending is emotionally brutal but thematically perfect. It elevates the film from a creature feature to a profound study of human fragility. Thomas Jane's raw performance sells David's devastation, making the finale unforgettable. While some argue it's excessively grim, I'd counter that horror should disturb, not comfort. The ending ensures The Mist isn't just watched-it's felt. That said, it's so punishing that I've never rewatched it lightly. It's a testament to Darabont's vision that, years later, debates still rage over whether the ending was genius or gratuitous.
Final Thought: Whether you love or hate the ending, The Mist succeeds in haunting its audience. It's a rare horror film where the true monster isn't the creatures-it's despair itself.