LITERAL REMAINS

The Fog is the first horror movie I ever remember seeing.  This is the one that hooked me and made me a horror devotee.  Although there may be better films to come down the line over the past few decades, there is still a power in this simple little ghost story, and I would be remiss if I didn’t include it on our countdown.

The centennial celebration of Antonio Bay is accompanied by the appearance of a strange fog.  “What the hell’s in the fog?”  Ghosts.

One hundred years ago, the founding fathers of Antonio Bay lured a ship to shore.  They intentionally sank the ship, the Elizabeth Dane, on the rocks, luring all the passengers to their death.  The people on board the ship were lepers, hoping to build a new colony with the hefty wealth they had accumulated.  The founders of Antonio Bay, having killed the lepers, stole all their riches to help fund their own settlement.

The true history of Antonio Bay is discovered by Father Malone, written by his ancestor, one of the men who killed the lepers and started the town.  The murdered victims of the Elizabeth Dane have returned on the glowing fog, and they want revenge (after one hundred years, it’s safe to say that, yes, that makes it a cold dish).  Top on the list of those who need killin’ are the direct descendants of Antonio Bay’s founding fathers.

The Fog stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Hal Holbrook, Nancy Loomis, Janet Leigh, and John Houseman.  Talk about genre favorites and some serious heavyweights!

The Fog hits just the right notes throughout.  Co-writer/director John Carpenter was put a few gore scenes to help draw movie goers of 1980, but they are tame by today’s standards.  There is still very little blood or gore.  This is an effectively paced and well made thriller.

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