The Fog (1980) [Review]

"To the ships at sea who can hear my voice, look across the water, into the darkness. Look for the fog."

PLOT SYNOPSIS

A small coastal town is enveloped by a strange, eerie fog that seems to bring death to anyone caught within. A small band of strangers much race against it in the hopes of discovering its origins, and a way of stopping it.

REVIEW

Despite lacking character development and impactful kill shots, THE FOG succeeds at elevating your heart rate by oozing atmosphere and crafting a simple yet memorable ghost story. Yes, there are better films in Carpenter's catalogue, but there's something undeniably terrifying about vengeful ghost pirates that can appear anywhere, anytime, especially when accompanied by one of director John Carpenter's most haunting scores!

Now, don't be mislead by posters and other promos: Jamie Lee Curtis isn't the star here. Heck, she's hardly important in the grand scheme of things, which is disappointing considering how front-and-center she was in HALLOWEEN (1978). The narrative instead follows an ensemble of mostly-forgettable characters played by incredible actors. Adrienne Barbeau, the closest thing we get to a main player, shines bright and really sells the tension with the most memorable moments/quotes in the entire film. Unfortunately, she is relegated to a role that doesn't have much impact on the outcome of things.

Hal Holbrook, on the other hand, plays a character that is central to the plot and its outcome, but isn't really a hero until the eleventh hour. Regardless, his performance is just as strong as, if not stronger than, Barbeau's. If it wasn't for his fantastic turn, the film would probably crumble away by the third act. He is the glue that keeps everything together and allows the audience to feel a semblance of pity/remorse towards the spectral invaders. And man ... that closing shot! So good.

Everyone else is kind of just ... there. Curtis and her mother, Janet Leigh, play roles that, while seemingly important on paper, fail to provide us with any sort of emotional connection to the plot or events. Tom Atkins is the closest thing we get to a main hero with ties to and stakes in the story, but again, his character is forgettable and is nothing more than a vehicle for exposition.

The special effects in this 1980 film are simultaneously "dated" and "revolutionary for the time". On one hand, we have underwhelming death scenes that lack any punch (which is something that plagues many of Carpenter's early features). On the other, we have a mesmerizing, living fog that is unlike anything seen at the time. With such an imbalance present, I still can't decide if I'm impressed or disappointed with the overall effects package.

With such underwhelming characters and uneven special effects, you'd think I'd recommend avoiding THE FOG, but you'd be wrong. It's flawed, sure, but it's is a fun ghost story that exudes atmosphere and drips with tension. It's one of Carpenter's less-effective films, but if you can overlook its shortcomings, it's great fun. Also, it's WAY better than its 2005 remake.

SUMMARY

It's slow and somewhat lacking in terms of visual scares and character, but the chilling atmosphere it creates is second to none.

VERDICT

GOOD

PROS