Most problematic ending for a movie since Alien 3 (which I'm counting as the epilogue to Aliens--despite fan protestations (my own included), Alien 3 still remains part of the canon). Thomas Jane deserves better. I like irony as much as the next guy, but that was just overkill. I was willing to forgive the implausible behavior of some of the characters, but the ending just...*sigh* If you've no plans to see the movie then by all means: (inviso-text spoiler below!!!)
So having escaped from the grocery store which had become like a miniature Jonestown, our hero and four other escapees including his young son make their getaway in his Landcruiser. They drive as far as the gas in the tank will take them, only to find the mist extends seemingly forever. The SUV runs out of gas and the hero decides they should all just commit suicide. They all agree and he takes a revolver and shoots them, including his 8-year old son. He only has four bullets so he decides to step out into the mist and have the monsters kill him. He gets out of the car and beckons them to come end his misery, except they don't, because the cavalry arrives literally in the form of the military and dissipates the mist and exterminates the creatures. This happens literally seconds after he gets out of the car. Thomas Jane sees the army and screams in so much existential agony. Boo!
Too clever by half, Mr. Darabont.
