The Sins Of The Father... (The Fog [1979] (DVD))

Name: wampyrii

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Product:	The Fog [1979] (DVD)
Date:	01/08/01 (29 review reads)
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The Fog is the follow up to John Carpenter's phenomenally successful 'Halloween' movie. However, for those anticipating a movie along the same lines this must have come as something of a disappointment, and hence perhaps why this wasn't given quite the plaudits that it ought to have. It is horror movie, but one on a more depressed emotional level than the straight out attack of Halloween and as such probably lacks the same level of universal appeal. Its still good, but don't go looking for a 'monster' character in it - their isn't one. Instead the atmosphere, the emotional tension and the suspense brought out of the unknown is where the horror comes from - different and in my opinion far more effective than the Michael Myers boogie man scenario which Halloween wowed audiences with. Oh well, each to their own...

The Fog is set in the quiet coastal town of Antonio Bay - a town with a dark secret. 100 years ago a ship carrying lepers made its way towards the town, packed with gold and with the captain intent on setting up a leper colony nearby. However, it never completed its journey because the greedy townsfolg, both coverting the gold and horrified by the idea of a leper colony so close to hope lit false beacons to drive the ship onto the rocks, killing all those aboard and plundering the gold for themselves. It was upon this gold that Antonio Bay was founded. Now, 100 years later the captain and his passengers are back with vengeance in mind...

The idea is of course very simple, it always is in horror movies, yet the simplest ideas are usually the best. Of course, this is little more than an update to the haunted town/pirate scenario seen hundreds of times before, but it also happens to be a damn good one. Carpenter adds his own style and flair to the proceedings so it never feels 'old' at any point in the game. Rather than opting for gore and shambling leper monster figures the movie proves once again that t
he mind is a far more power medium through which to create 'special effects'. we never really see the 'enemy' here, just the occassional rag-covered arm, swinging hook etc. as the towsfolk get their comeuppance as the lepers search for their stolen gold.

The casting here is good, but the movie suffers from not having a central character upon which to focus. As a result, the focus shifts from one set of characters to the next and never lingers long enough to gain any real rapport with any one of them. I suppose the idea is that the town is united against a common enemy and everyone is wroking as one in that goal, but it still doesn't work - it is very messy and bitty at times. There are equally some ideas here which seem to spring up out nowhere and then fade away without trace, and the lack of focus is again seen where the seamen kill people who have nothing to do with the town and then proceed to let go people who are direct decendants of those who wronged them in the past. The plot simply doesn't add up in this way on far too many occassions.

That said, the special fog effects are great and the perfect medium for building great suspense as it is by this that the undead sailors move around. They could be anywhere and in fact they usually are...or not...you just never know - hugely effective. I have to say that even with the gripes about the plot this is still a great movie and shamefully overlooked in Carpenter's back catalogue in my opinion. If you like horror movies then be sure to check this one out because it is simply great. Its not high on blood and gore, but its very suspenseful and a fine tale. Recommended, but remember its getting on in years now...

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