The Fog - A Movie Review

We’d better turn back now or we’re going to get caught in this approaching fog.

Drifting into theaters, The Fog was released in 1980. A mysterious fog surrounds an island. Something in this fog is murdering residents. Going after the fog, they have to figure out what this is before it is too late.

I am so glad that I watched this film again because I did not embrace the ambiguous terror of The Fog when I first watched it. The Fog has a slow pace. It leads to an excellent on-edge character-driven story.

The Fog is a character-driven story. That’s my favorite element in any film. Following several different stories that connect in one evening, the central focus of The Fog is to test audiences. Most importantly, it tests how a town comes together in a time of need. That’s something I never noticed before.

Another notable feature that The Fog is known for is character interactions. I liked how the characters weren’t afraid to admit how they felt about one another which added comedic effect. Most of the characters don’t know each other. While this mysterious fog is an unknown visitor, the residents of the town are ready to fight.

After her iconic role in Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis stars as a wandering hitchhiker. Curtis and Tom Atkins were great together. And Curtis releases her trademark scream.

In her film debut, Adrienne Barbeau puts up an unforgettable fight, all while warning people about the danger from her radio station. None of the characters act as helpless. The writers did a good job enforcing that concept, unlike how some horror movies now like to do this.

Starring in the film with her real-life daughter, the late Janet Leigh makes a memorable appearance. The only role that I have seen Leigh in is her iconic role in Psycho. The Fog showed me that was capable of any range.

Other credits to include are John Houseman, James Canning, Charles Cyphers, Nancy Kyes, Ty Mitchell, Hal Holbrook, and many more.

The visual effects for The Fog are captivating for its time. Picking the best location shots, the film is eyecatching. The illuminating ominous light from the fog was a nice addition. The Fog paid the closest attention to sound. The mysterious essence creates tension, both for the characters and the viewers.

John Carpenter kept the grim tone of the film. In a way, the audience plays as characters, too. We don’t know what’s going to happen next. Carpenter enforced great action from all the actors to convey less attention away from the arising events. He carefully shot the film, planning out every angle, and using an anamorphic lens to generate more of the tension.

The Fog is an old-fashioned ghost story. That’s its trademark. It’s subtle, which is the main ingredient that all horror films should use. Every shot of the film is effective, along with character interactions.

We don’t need to learn the entire story of what’s in the fog. The little we know, the more tension there is. Carpenter achieved building some sequences in total silence, which is another efficient method for a horror film to scare audiences.

The Fog is a great example of the formatting of a horror film. Again, I am so glad that I came back to watch this film. This is why it is necessary to always give a film a second watch. You never know what you miss on the first watch.

Get out the classics this Halloween and watch them. I recommend that you find The Fog and watch it.