I led a rather sheltered life as a child and teen. My parents were strict about the movies I could see and were completely against me taking in any type of supernatural horror films. I would go to my father’s house during the summers and that’s when I would catch up on all the great films I missed for the past year. One of my fondest memories is watching “The Fog” one night around dusk with my cousin.
It made a lasting impact on me that was evident five minutes after the credits rolled. Back in the early eighties, big trucks would drive through my father’s neighborhood right before the sun went down and spray for mosquitoes. The insecticide created a thick fog that slowly crawled up to the house from the street. Needless to say, I was terrified.
The little coastal town of Antonio Bay is about to pay for the sins of its forefathers. 100 years after being misled to their rocky demise during a dense fog, a phantom ship full of ghostly specters exacts their revenge on the ancestors who plotted their deaths. No one is safe until the six living relatives of the conspirators are put to death.
“The Fog” is rather tame besides some bad language and a scene of Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Atkins discussing her art in bed together. For all intents and purposes it’s a study in visual minimalism. A lot of violence and killing is insinuated but happens off-screen, which gives it a classic feel missing in more graphic and gory films. It’s truly a practice in the school of “What you don’t see is scarier than what you do.” It’s a lesson many filmmakers could stand to learn today.
The audio and video presentation for “The Fog” Collector’s Edition gives audiences a great film that looks better than ever. Even though it’s been upgraded, it still has that old school grainy flavor. The 5.1 surround sound guarantees that every sudden scream or jolting bump will have viewers jumping out of their seats. It also helps to bring John Carpenter’s eerie electronic score to the forefront.
Being a Scream Factory release, there’s no question that the special features for “The Fog” Collector’s Edition are going to be top-notch. Audio commentary is provided by Writer /Director John Carpenter and Writer/Producer Debra Hill. Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, and Production Designer Tommy Lee Wallace give us new audio commentary, too.
There’s also a rather in-depth new interview with Jamie Lee Curtis. Three featurettes are included entitled “Tales from the Mist: Inside ‘The Fog,'” “‘The Fog:’ Storyboard to Film,” and “Fear on Film: Inside ‘The Fog.'” We also take a look at the film’s locations in “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds.” Outtakes, theatrical trailers, and TV spots round out the bonus material.
“The Fog” is one of those special horror films I hold up as one of the greatest ghost stories of all time. I look at it as an introduction to horror movies and used it as such on my son. It’s dear to my heart and my experience seeing it for the first time will stay with me forever.
“The Fog” Collector’s Edition is available now on Blu-ray.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
“Detention of the Dead” Mashes Together “Night of the Living Dead” and “The Breakfast Club”
“The Incredible Melting Man” Oozes on to Blu-ray
DVD Review: “The Last Exorcism Part II”
