1. The Mist (2007) - Dir. Frank Darabont
The film that is frequently said to contain the most depressing ending in cinema history, what else could it be but Frank Darabont's adaptation of the Stephen King novella? The film tells the story of a small community that becomes caught in a mysterious, you guessed it, mist. After a thunderstorm most of the town heads to the local shopping market to stock up on provisions and it's then when the titular mist rolls in trapping the people inside, due to the strange creatures that dwell within it. Though like so many siege films, it's not about what's outside trying to get in that's the real threat, it's about what's already inside. Namely the evangelical Mrs Carmody, a deranged religous fanatic that claims this is a punishment from God and he must be appeased with a sacrifice. She slowly manages to gather more followers and tries to seize Billy, our protagonist's son, the group eventually decide that the only way to save themselves is to venture out in search of rescue. They get to their car and drive for hours and find their families all dead and that the mist has spread everywhere, and produced creatures hundreds of feet tall. Seeing no other way out, David picks up the revolver and announces that there are only four bullets and five of them. They agree on the choice he makes, feeling that all hope is lost. He shoots his son and the three others, before exiting the car and screaming for the creatures to take him. A low rumble is heard, just as the military appear out of nowhere, with flamethrowers and tanks. They were seconds away from being rescued. The absolute hopelessness of the situation mixed with the hard choice David makes, has you feeling sick to your stomach at the fact there was no other way out. Until the tank comes rolling past. A film doesn't ruin your day, but your whole month.
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