• Review Index
  • About Me
  • Suggestions

vinnieh

~ Movie reviews and anything else that comes to mind

vinnieh

Tag Archives: Hal Holbrook

The Fog

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 35 Comments

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 Fog 1980The 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.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012

Categories

  • 007 thoughts and reviews
  • Adventures of Satrap
  • Announcements
  • Awards and Achievements
  • Birthdays and Tributes
  • Blogging Community
  • Blogging Questions
  • Creepy
  • Gif Posts
  • Humour
  • Movie and Television Trivia
  • Movie opinions and thoughts
  • Movie Reviews
  • Music reviews and opinions
  • Photography Discussion
  • Rest In Peace
  • Sport
  • Television Opinions
  • Television Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
April 2021
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« Mar    

Tags

007 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's Action Adventure Announcement Based on a true story Bernard Lee Bette Davis Birthday Blogs You Should Follow Carry On Movies Cate Blanchett Comedy Crime Desmond Llewelyn Disney Drama Fantasy Foreign Language Film Gillian Anderson Happy Birthday Horror James Bond Judi Dench Julianne Moore Julia Roberts Liebster Award Lois Maxwell Madonna Matthew Fox Meryl Streep Michelle Pfeiffer Music Musical Mystery Natalie Portman Neve Campbell Period Drama Psychological Horror Psychological Thriller Rest In Peace Romance Romantic Comedy Science Fiction Spy Supernatural Horror Thriller

Top Posts & Pages

The Stud
Beyoncé's Sexiest Videos
Death Becomes Her
Lyric Analysis - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue: Where the Wild Roses Grow
Two Moon Junction
Which Actors and Actresses Seem to Get Naked A lot on Film?
Desperate Housewives Season 5
The Lost Boys
Alias Season 3
The Stepford Wives
Follow vinnieh on WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy