The Fog (1980)

February 07, 2007

The Fog (1980), starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, and directed by John Carpenter is one of those horror films that Ted Turner reruns the hell out of. I am not sure why it is rated R. There is no nudity, swearing, or blood… maybe people getting whacked with meat hooks is enough for an R rating?

Anyway, the Fog starts with a campfire ghost story told by the immortal John Houseman. It deals with a town, Antonio Bay, that double crosses a few lepers (who were looking for a peaceful off Shore Island) and then steals all their gold. Then the town’s people do a few other nasty things to these unfortunate souls, but one hundred years later these Lepers return to take revenge on the town’s decedents.

This is a less is more movie. The fog, itself, is creepy plus it is how these ghastly killers travel. So their faces and bodies are always distorted or covered, leaving your imagination to fill in the gaps. Thus creating a horrific image in your own mind, this technique is long since forgotten because audiences want to see the monster and Hollywood wants to show off how much money it spent. In my opinion it makes for a better movie, the less is more technique… because more often than not, your imagination is better than what some make up can make real.

The music! The music is incredible. John Carpenter is one of the few directors who score his own movies. His themes for Halloween (1978) are world renown but it is The Fog’s music that might be, by far, his greatest piece of music. It sets a tone for the movie and keeps a pace that is relentless and unforgiving. 

So turn off all the lights, sit down, and be scared by The Fog.

Historical side note: this is the first time that Jamie Lee Curtis appeared with her scream queen mother Janet Leigh (from Psycho) in a film. They would later co-star in Halloween H20.

Click here to read the staff review by Mania.