Frank Darabont’s 2007 film The Mist, based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name, has long been considered a horror classic thanks to its bleak and shocking ending. However, a chilling fan theory reinterprets the finale, making it even more terrifying.
According to this theory, Mrs. Carmody — the religious zealot whom everyone dismissed as insane — was actually right.
A Prophecy Fulfilled
In both the book and the film, Mrs. Carmody represents the dangers of religious fanaticism. She claims to have received a 'vision' stating that a human sacrifice is needed to stop the Mist and the monsters lurking within it. Her main target? Billy, the protagonist’s young son. Naturally, the other survivors see her as deranged. But what if she wasn’t?
This idea works for both the book and the film. In the novella, the ending remains ambiguous: David and his group drive through the Mist, hoping to find safety. In the final lines, David hears the word 'Hartford' on the radio, hinting at a possible sanctuary. However, if Mrs. Carmody’s theory holds true, one must wonder — could sacrificing one of the survivors have truly ended the Mist?
The film’s ending is far more brutal. In utter despair, David kills everyone in the car, including his son, to spare them from being torn apart by the creatures. Moments later, the Mist clears, and the military arrives. If this theory is correct, this was no coincidence — David’s desperate act of sacrifice was what ended the Mist.
Religious Fanaticism as the Path to Salvation
If Mrs. Carmody was right all along, it drastically changes the meaning of the story. Instead of being a deluded cult leader, she becomes a prophet whose words turned out to be true. This makes the ending even more disturbing: salvation didn’t come through human resilience or hope but through an act of violence committed in despair.
This interpretation contradicts King’s usual themes. Even in his darkest stories, there is often a glimmer of hope or human perseverance. However, if this theory holds, The Mist becomes a tale where evil triumphs and brutality is the only way to survive.
Randall Flagg: The Hidden Mastermind?
Another theory ties into the idea of Mrs. Carmody being right. Some fans speculate that the Mist and its creatures were unleashed by none other than Randall Flagg — one of King’s most infamous villains. According to this theory, Flagg was responsible for opening a portal to another dimension, allowing the creatures to invade.
If both theories are combined, it suggests that Flagg required a human sacrifice to end the Mist. This would align with his character, as he delights in manipulating people into committing horrific acts. In this case, David unknowingly became Flagg’s pawn, and his tragic sacrifice was all part of the dark entity’s plan.
This interpretation not only reshapes the film’s ending but also raises deeper questions about the nature of evil and the cost of survival. Perhaps this is why The Mist remains one of Stephen King’s most haunting stories — it leaves us with questions that have no clear answers. But we keep searching for them.
