Peter Boyle, Mikael Håfström Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 09/16/2008 Run time: 126 minutes Rating: R

Quentin Tarantino Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 12/16/2008 Run time: 105 minutes

Frank Darabont Genius Prod. The Mist (Blu-ray)Writer-director Frank Darabont, who showcased the softer side of Stephen King in his film adaptations of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, turns to darker material forThe Mist, his latest King adaptation about a group of ordinary townspeople trapped in a supermarketby a mysterious fogbank. Thomas Jane is top-billed as a Maine illustrator who attempts to calm the frightened shoppers, but his job is cut out for him from the get-go, first by the discovery of malevolent creatures lurking in the mist, and then by the mad mutterings of Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden), a local eccentric who calls for Old Testament-style sacrifices to appease the supernatural forces. Darabont delivers monster movie thrills and understated social commentary with equal skill, and he's well supported by his cast (which includes Andre Braugher, Toby Jones, William Sadler and Jeffrey DeMunn) and the vivid special effects by KNB EFX, which effectively mix CGI with models and stop-motion animation (the terrific monsters were designed by legendary comic book artist Bernie Wrightson). And for those curious about how the novella's downbeat ending has translated to film, suffice itto say that Darabont's conclusion is at once different and more unsettling than King's.

Robert Rodriguez Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 12/16/2008 Run time: 105 minutes