Tags
1980's, Adrienne Barbeau, Hal Holbrook, Horror, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, John Carpenter, John Houseman, The Fog, Tom Atkins
Film Title
The Fog
Director
John Carpenter
Starring
- Adrienne Barbeau as Stevie Wayne
- Jamie Lee Curtis as Elizabeth Solley
- Tom Atkins as Nick Castle
- Janet Leigh as Kathy Williams
- Hal Holbrook as Father Malone
- John Houseman as Mr. Machen
The Fog is John Carpenter’s ghostly horror from the 80’s that focuses on a California fishing town celebrating its centenary, only for horror to engulf the festivities . Boasting suspense, a menacing score and chills, it is most certain to keep you scared throughout.
The Californian town of Antonio Bay is just about to celebrate its centenary. Just before the clock strikes twelve, Mr. Machen, a salty old fisherman is telling a chilling story to young children around a campfire. It details the deaths of many men on a ship named the Elizabeth Dane, that was shipwrecked after seeing the light from a fire all those years ago as the fog rolled in. He tells the children that one day the ghosts of the men who died will rise from their watery grave and seek revenge. Strange phenomena start around the town with car alarms sounding for no reason and phones ringing with no reply. It is around this time that Father Malone, the local priest discovers an old journal in the walls of the church. To his horror he discovers how his grandfather was one of six conspirators who helped lure the ship to the rocks, as the people on board where lepers whose rich leader Blake wanted to establish a colony on Antonio Bay. Meanwhile various residents of the town become frightened by the glowing fog that keeps appearing from midnight to one. The residents consist of Stevie Wayne, the husky voiced, lighthouse bound DJ; town resident Nick Castle; runaway hitchhiker Elizabeth Solley and the organiser of the celebrations Kathy Williams. As events begin to take a sinister turn from jubilant celebration, the residents come to realise that the fog brings with it the spirits of the men who died and are now wanting justice for what happened to them by killing those in their path. Ghostly terror, suspenseful atmosphere and a competent cast make The Fog a creepy tale of nocturnal haunting.
John Carpenter creates a chilling atmosphere from the get go, with the prologue featuring Mr. Machen telling the ghost story around the fire as the children listen intently. It is a genuinely creepy and chilling scene that sets up the ghostly events that will soon follow. The setting makes for eerie viewing, especially the scenes of Stevie Wayne in the lighthouse as the day fades into night and the titular fog rolls in. As with most of his films, Carpenter creates a sonic embodiment of horror and bone chilling menace. From the sound of the fog horns droning to the pulsing electronic score, The Fog is fascinating and spine tingling to listen to. Some of the effects may be dated and some scenes may drag for longer than they need to, but these are minor flaws in this ghostly horror story.
The characters are played with ease by the cast. Adrienne Barbeau makes for a sexy yet warm scream queen who must do battle with the fog whilst in the lighthouse. Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Atkins are good as the hitchhiker and her new boyfriend. Jamie’s real life mother Janet Leigh is uptight and stoic as the town organiser who comes to see that the town is built on lies rather than goodness. Interestingly, they don’t share the screen until late into the movie. Hal Holbrook is effective in the small but pivotal role of Father Malone, the first person to uncover the unholy deed responsible for this terrifying haunting. The cameo of John Houseman as he tells the chilling origins of the town is supremely crafted and bound to linger in the mind.
For spine chilling and ghostly horror, The Fog is the go to movie.
jennifromrollamo said:
Saw a bit of this in high school and when Hal Holbrook gets his in that church-creeped me out! Still does, a very suspenseful, spine-tingling movie, imho.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, it does make for eerie viewing.
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Al said:
I never got around to watching this. The first time I heard of it was after I read James Herbert’s book of the same name and it all seemed wrong to me. Now, many years later, I will have to watch it 🙂
Thanks Vinnie
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, let me know what you think of it if you manage to see it.
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Al said:
I will
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Paul S said:
Terrific Review!
I really love the atmosphere and the mood of “The Fog”, it’s one of my favourite John Carpenter films.
Oh and Hal Holbrook is fantastic in this. Great actor.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, I often find that mood is key in a horror movie to keep me interested and The Fog delivers on that front.
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Parlor of Horror said:
Love the mood and atmosphere of this movie. This is probably my 2nd fave Carpenter film!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, he is such a great craftsman of atmosphere and suspense.
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Ryan said:
Nice review, man. It’s really an underrated flick from Carpenter and one that doesn’t get a whole lot of attention!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, it really deserves more attention in my view.
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Dan Heaton said:
I’m a big John Carpenter fan and definitely enjoy The Fog. It’s not one of his best but has such an eerie tone. Your points about the sound design are so true, and that’s what sells the very silly premise.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, the sound design is so chilling and key to the ghoulish atmosphere.
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chris2508 said:
A fine review. I love John Carpenter’s work. The fact that he creates his own music is great, he knows what music is needed and when it’s needed.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, he really is skilled in the art of creating nerve jangling music.
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70srichard said:
Atmosphere galore is the key to this film. Ghost stories in the dark with fog, hard to screw up. Of course I haven’t seen the remake so I know it is possible. A solid Carpenter film and a nice review. Thanks.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment. I’ve always enjoyed a good ghost story laced with atmosphere.
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Writer Loves Movies said:
Saw this one once years ago – with one eye on the movie and one on my Maths coursework! Sounds like I should give it a re-watch with my full attention!
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vinnieh said:
You should watch it with full attention with the lights off for maximum chilling impact.
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Paul Bowler said:
Such a spooky film, always enjoy watching this. Think its on TV at the weekend, so will probably end up watching it. Really like the setting and the characters, still creeps me out when the fog comes and the ghosts knock on the door! Brilliant!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, the part when the ghosts knock on the door still creeps me out too.
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Paul Bowler said:
Yeah, its such a spooky film, Carpenter builds the tension perfectly. The final scenes in the lighthouse are great as well.
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mikeyb @ screenkicker said:
I love any John Carpenter film from the 80s. The Fog had the potential to just be silly but it turns out to be really creepy. Great review!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, he really does know how to craft an effective horror movie.
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thycriticman said:
I miss John Carpenter. A true master of horror and it is a shame we do not have directors who contribute to the genre in the same manner that he and others of his time did. Did you watch his latest effort called The Ward? I will thinking of giving it a watch!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, we really do need more directors like him. I haven’t seen The Ward but I’m curious to see it now.
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Really Awful Movies said:
Thanks much for the follow!
It’s been a few years since seeing The Fog.
We just caught Hal Holbrook (All the President’s Men) in a spirited, cheap-o Canadian Deliverance knock-off, Rituals and forgot that Adrienne Barbeau was in Carpenter’s exemplary Escape from New York.
Congrats on the success of your site.
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vinnieh said:
Your blog is really cool. I love visiting this movie every now and then, the whole ghostly atmosphere is really something.
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Aaron said:
This is one of those movies I make sure to rewatch every couple of years. It’s hard to go wrong with Tom Atkins and Adrienne Barbeau.
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vinnieh said:
This movie never gets old for me. My Grandpa introduced it to me when I was 12 and I’ve loved it ever since.
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beetleypete said:
I generally like Carpenter films a lot, and I enjoyed the ‘lonely DJ’ element here. I just didn’t find it very scary, to be honest. Then again, I was too old to be that scared by the time this came out.
Cheers, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
I was about 12 upon first seeing this movie, which probably goes a long way to showing why I was so terrified of it. That opening with the campfire story still gives me that feeling of unease.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Awesome review Vinnie! This is one of my favorite 80s horror flicks!
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vinnieh said:
My late Grandad let me watch this at age 12 and it spooked me so much!
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