October Stephen King Tribute Day 24: The Mist

The Mist is a novella that was originally published in the 1980 anthology Dark Forces. It was later edited and included in the collection Skeleton Crew.

Warning, this review does contain spoilers.

Following a severe thunderstorm, Bridgton, Maine is enveloped in a thick mist. The mist is so thick that visibility is close to zero. David Drayton and his son Billy are trapped in the local supermarket. Soon after being stuck in the supermarket, something clogs up the air vent on the outside of the store. Norm, the bag boy, goes out to correct the problem but is pulled deeper into the mist by a set of tentacles.

David and Ollie, the store manager, try to convince everyone inside of the dangers lurking out in the mist. A few others disagree and venture outside where they are quickly killed by a huge creature. A flying creature resembling something from the dinosaur age enters the store for a bit. Panic sets in and a group of people believe that the events are representative of the biblical end of days. They decide that a human sacrifice must be made. David and a group of people sneak out of the store and make it to a car. They drive off through the mist witnessing several horrible creatures as they go. They story ends with them hearing the word "Hartford" on the radio and deciding to head in that direction.

Once again, King leaves the ending open for your imagination. He gives several clues to the scenario that has led to the mist, but never confirms any of them. The characters are very real in this story and I think that is why I like this one so much. King shows his talent best when he takes real, believable characters and throws them into fantastic and horrific scenarios.