The Mist — Cloudy with a chance of monsters (+ climate anxiety and xenophobia!)

Mental Health is Horrifying

Let’s talk about the apocalyptic— today’s forecast is misty with a chance of monsters — low key 2007 creature feature, The Mist.
I had seen this movie a handful of times over the years and upon a rewatch for this episode, I really wanted this movie to just be about climate change. It’s easy to see it that way pure and simple — there’s literally monsters in the mist outside that prevent people from going out lest they get eaten. But on closer inspection, there is so much much more going on here and begs the question — is climate change really just environmental terrorism? And who exactly is the real monster here?
This episode explores the film’s portrayal of climate anxiety, a psychological concept called sense-making, in and out groups, spiritual bypassing, and hopelessness. Good times!
Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, owner of Many Moons Therapy.
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Sources:
The 1990s Teen Horror Cycle: Final Girls and a New Hollywood Formula by Alexandra West https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-1990s-teen-horror-cycle/
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9827912-incognito
Canada wildfires: US East Coast sees worst air quality in years https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65828469
The Social Psychology of Organizing by Karl E. Weick https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/134489
Deep Diversity: Overcoming Us Vs. Them by Shakil Choudhury https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/26781095
Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation by John Welwood https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14457.Toward_a_Psychology_of_Awakening
‘The Mist’ Is Still Relevant for Unfortunate Reasons by Kristen Lopez
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mist-is-still-relevant-unfortunate-reasons-1060573/
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91953.Leviathan
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Mental Health Resources:
Assaulted Women’s Help Line
awhl.org
416-863-0511
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
camh.net
416-535-8501
Distress Centres of Toronto
dcogt.com
416-408-4357
Gerstein Crisis Centre
gersteincentre.org
416-929-5200
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre / Multicultural Women Against Rape
trccmwar.ca
416-597-8808
Victim Services Toronto
victimservicestoronto.com
416-808-7066