Lost in the 'Mist'

I don't mind when someone disagrees with my critiques. Sometimes, people give me new ways of looking at a film and I see it in a fresh light (The New York Post's Kyle Smith blogged about the forthcoming "Juno," and it forced me to reconsider my initial kudos).
But a 69 percent rating for "The Mist" at Rottentomatoes.com? I'm a soft touch with horror movies, and often I have to make sure my critic's helmet is securely fastened before reviewing even the lamest slasher flicks. But "The Mist" fails on so many levels it's hard to believe my peers were swept up by it. Generic effects. Awkward dialogue. Preachy subplots. And oh, that ending. It'll inspire snickers, not nightmares. If you dug it, let me know why. I'm eager to hear an impassioned defense of the film.
I'd like to say the public agreed with me, given its awful first week b.o. take, but I think that's more a measure of general disinterest rather than a public drubbing.