The Fog

There are crimes of yesteryear a debt to pay, for deeds despicable, left sunken in the bay, and on this anniversary, a fog embraces from the sea, with a cargo full of vengeance to convey.

The land lubbers of Antonio Bay don't enjoy the greatest founding centenary celebration day, as curious disturbances begin to create waves, and people are swallowed up by a glowing miasma, and devils from the deep blue sea seek revenge and retribution for past crimes . With an impressive cast, this still holds water today, and while it's of its time, peel off the barnacles and jump right in to enjoy one of John Carpenter's earlier imaginings.

John Houseman sits around a campfire telling children about the story of a ship that went down near their home Antonio Bay and how the drowned sailors will reappear 100 years to that very night in the fog. It is a wonderful beginning to a very chilling film, directed by the modern horror meister John Carpenter. As with most of his films, Carpenter creates a scary atmosphere through moody settings(the California coastline, a lighthouse, an old Church), relentless mood music as in Halloween, good character acting(Holbrook, Houseman, Curtis, Leigh), and a claustrophobic feeling of something vice-like gripping you. The story has some plot problems, but none enough to detract from the overall enjoyment of the film. Adrienne Barbeau is as lovely as ever in the lead, and the film is credible amidst the background of supernatural actions.

John Carpenter in his prime was a true master of the genre. He reinvented the serial killer film with HALLOWEEN, and proved equally adept with the monster movie in 1982's THE THING. In between, he wrote and directed this supernatural ghost story and it shows an auteur bringing his 'A' game. Unfortunately, it falls short of being a classic - both in the horror genre and in Carpenter's oeuvre. It feels underwritten. It needs more character and plot development. It has a fantastic premise, revealed through creepy, tension building first half-hour. And then. . . Well it races to a climax. As if there's no middle. Which is fine for short attention spans, but not very rewarding. I wanted more.

One hundred years ago, on April 21st, the wealthy leper Blake bought the vessel Elizabeth Dane and moved with his friends from a leper colony to California to build a town for them to live with more comfort. However, while crossing a fog in Spivey Point, they were misguided by a campfire onshore, steering the course of the vessel toward the light and crashing her against the rocks. On the present days, on the celebration of the centenary of the fishing town Antonio Bay, a glowing fog appears, bringing the zombies of Blake and his crew to kill the residents. Father Robert Malone (Hal HolbrooK) finds the hidden journal of his grandfather in the wall of his church, and discloses that Antonio Bay was built with Blake's gold. Further, a group of conspirators including his grandfather lighted the fire to sink Elizabeth Dane and robber Blake's fortune and now the ghosts of Blake and his crew are seeking for revenge on the locals.

"The Fog" is a dark ghost story of this master of horror John Carpenter, who deserves an Oscar his great filmography. The cinematography and special effects are great, giving a scary atmosphere without the need of gore. It is nice to see again a gorgeous twenty-three- year- old Jamie Lee Curtis acting with her mother Janet Leigh. The screenplay builds the horror in a low pace, but increasing the tension. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Bruma Assassina" ("The Assassin Fog")

Note: On 14 September 2020, I saw this film again.

Note: On 25 February 2025, I saw this film again.

John Carpenter's The Fog isn't your typical horror film filled with loud jump scares or fast-paced chaos. Instead, it's a slow-burning, atmospheric ghost story that lets tension build like mist crawling across your skin.

Set in a small coastal town preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary, strange events begin to unfold just as an unnatural, glowing fog rolls in. Radios glitch, lights flicker, and an eerie feeling of something watching never quite goes away. With every passing minute, the fog gets closer - and so does the sense of dread.

Carpenter, known for classics like Halloween and The Thing, creates a chilling mood without relying on gore or over-the-top violence. The horror here is quieter, more psychological - and honestly, that makes it even creepier. The glowing fog itself becomes a character, moving with purpose, hiding secrets inside it.

The cast is solid, with standout performances from Adrienne Barbeau as a radio DJ who ends up becoming the town's unlikely warning voice. The film's music (composed by Carpenter himself) is hauntingly beautiful and sets the tone perfectly - subtle, suspenseful, and sinister.

What makes The Fog stand out is its simplicity. It doesn't try too hard. It trusts its atmosphere, its slow rhythm, and its ghostly concept. The result is a story that pulls you in, keeps you curious, and leaves a chilling aftertaste.

It's not a movie for everyone - especially if you're after quick thrills. But if you enjoy mysterious tales, moody storytelling, and a creeping sense of the supernatural, The Fog is absolutely worth watching.

A classic tale that proves horror doesn't need to shout - sometimes, it just needs to whisper through the mist.