Note: Today's post will be sparse, due to other commitments I can't avoid, namely...work. (I usually post these reviews during my lunch breaks, which is short today.)
The Fog, 1980, Directed by John Carpenter
Grade: A -
As much as I love the original Halloween, John Carpenter's spooky ghost story The Fog about the revenge of evil apparitions that descend upon the sleepy waterfront town of Antonio Bay has always been a better film to me. (Yes, I just said that.)
I really like this film. It's atmospheric and it's creepy. The special effects are clever. (A fog machine was used, and the film was then run backwards in some scenes to show the illusion that the fog was following the residents through the town.) Ah, the days before CGI.
Old pros such as Janet Leigh and Hal Holbrook contribute their talents, as well as Adrienne Barbeau and Janet Leigh's daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis. While not the greatest acting ensemble ever, they are all are just perfect for this low-budget ghost story.
 |
| GAH! The monster! Oh, wait...that's just Mr. Carpenter. |
The great John Houseman (not doing a Smith Barney commercial), opens the film with the ghost story legend that will set up the plot. It's an eerie opening sequence, heightened just perfectly by what I believe to be John Carpenter's best score he's ever done for any of his films.
The film was panned upon release, with critics (I'm assuming here), wanting a better follow-up to Halloween. Whatever, the film works on so many levels of scares, so it ended up to this blogger being a perfect follow-up. Watch this one on a rainy night with the lights out and enjoy cheesy B-movie goodness.
Just don't get Mrs. Kobritz to baby-sit for your kids.
No comments:
Post a Comment