With The Fog, John Carpenter tries to make a film entirely different from Halloween, but would eventually regret it and add more slasher material because he felt his ghost story didn't work. He also added a prologue in which an old fishermen tells a campfire tale that efficiently explains the backstory of the pirate revenants, setting us up for what's to come. That prologue is exactly what makes the movie work. What are ghost stories? He tells us one, but he's not alone. Adrienne Barbeau is telling her own ghost story on the radio. Hal Holbrook's priest has his own piece of the story to tell. It gives the entire affair that campfire atmosphere. And I mean, how fun is it to cast the mother-daughter team of Janet Leigh and Jamie Lee Curtis (even if they don't have scenes together?), the leads of the two prototypical slasher films. For many of the characters, the events of that night remain mysterious, and the film treats it as a mystery for the most part. We know more as we get to see that cool ending, but the monsters are still only half-seen. The big glowing cloud isn't entirely visceral as a horror effect (it looks too much like a smoke machine gone haywire), but I do like the idea. Nice score too (obviously).
The movie is heavy on atmosphere and mood. The fog and its inhabitants are indeed spooky stuff, brought to life with some impressive special effects and a creepy John Carpenter musical score. After the surprisingly tame Halloween, Carpenter upps the gore on this one, which adds entertainment value if nothing else, but he should have kept the inhabitants of the fog a mystery for longer than he did. With the cat out of the bag after 10 minutes or so, there is little he can do to increase the tension after that. Unfortunately, the characters, although well played, are given little to do and the story contradicts itself on several places, already making little sense by the time we arrive at the disappointing ending. A mixed bag, but worth a watch.
It was interesting here and there, but never scary. I feel like the fog itself is never used to its full potential, with constantly the same outcome and nothing else. A lot of things don't get any sort of explanation (
the dead man rising up to suddenly collapse and write the number 3 on the floor
). I feel like a lot of characters could've been merged or removed altogether.
A silly movie that doesn't build up to anything and accomplishes little. The villain is too ill-defined both physically and figuratively. P.S. Will horror movie protagonists ever learn that it's ok not to answer the door?
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OrjanB
Heavily underrated. Light+color+mist on celluloid is just pure beauty.Siskoid
With The Fog, John Carpenter tries to make a film entirely different from Halloween, but would eventually regret it and add more slasher material because he felt his ghost story didn't work. He also added a prologue in which an old fishermen tells a campfire tale that efficiently explains the backstory of the pirate revenants, setting us up for what's to come. That prologue is exactly what makes the movie work. What are ghost stories? He tells us one, but he's not alone. Adrienne Barbeau is telling her own ghost story on the radio. Hal Holbrook's priest has his own piece of the story to tell. It gives the entire affair that campfire atmosphere. And I mean, how fun is it to cast the mother-daughter team of Janet Leigh and Jamie Lee Curtis (even if they don't have scenes together?), the leads of the two prototypical slasher films. For many of the characters, the events of that night remain mysterious, and the film treats it as a mystery for the most part. We know more as we get to see that cool ending, but the monsters are still only half-seen. The big glowing cloud isn't entirely visceral as a horror effect (it looks too much like a smoke machine gone haywire), but I do like the idea. Nice score too (obviously).IreneAdler
I actually liked it. Nice scary atmosphere, beautiful landscapes, great music...Zeltaebar
The movie is heavy on atmosphere and mood. The fog and its inhabitants are indeed spooky stuff, brought to life with some impressive special effects and a creepy John Carpenter musical score. After the surprisingly tame Halloween, Carpenter upps the gore on this one, which adds entertainment value if nothing else, but he should have kept the inhabitants of the fog a mystery for longer than he did. With the cat out of the bag after 10 minutes or so, there is little he can do to increase the tension after that. Unfortunately, the characters, although well played, are given little to do and the story contradicts itself on several places, already making little sense by the time we arrive at the disappointing ending. A mixed bag, but worth a watch.EssexMutant
Other than John Carpenter's score, there's very little going on here.deckard.
a dud by carpenter.Jashezilla
Quite dull for a Carpenter film but still very enjoyable.Rasheru
It was interesting here and there, but never scary. I feel like the fog itself is never used to its full potential, with constantly the same outcome and nothing else. A lot of things don't get any sort of explanation (thetallguyinthecorner
A silly movie that doesn't build up to anything and accomplishes little. The villain is too ill-defined both physically and figuratively. P.S. Will horror movie protagonists ever learn that it's ok not to answer the door?Camille Deadpan
I've got to say, I wouldn't enjoy a radio station like that. It's either talking with a voice that is just too sexy for a radio or screaming toNine99
What thetallguyinthecorner said. Also, the build-up takes fucking long.