The Fog 1980

 In 1978 John Carpenter made horror movie history with his classic slasher flick Halloween.  Two years later he followed that up with 1980's The Fog.  Once again he tapped Jamie Lee Curtis for a feature film only this time she wasn't the main female lead, Adrienne Barbeau in her first feature film, filled that spot.  At the time Barbeau was married to John Carpenter.  Also co-starring is Janet Leigh (Jamie Lee's real mother), John Houseman who delivers a great opening prologue, Tom Atkins who in my opinion doesn't get enough credit for all the horror movies he has co-starred in over the years.  Curtis wasn't the only actress from Halloween to also be in The Fog, Nancy Loomis, who played Annie Brackette appears here as well.  There's also Charles Cyphers who plays the meteorologist here and played the sheriff in the original Halloween.  Hal Holbrook rounds out the cast playing Father Malone the town priest who finds out the secret of the blood money that the town was founded on.  John Carpenter directed and also co wrote with Debra Hill who also shared the writing on Halloween.

 On the 100th anniversary of Antonio Bay ghostly happenings begin to occur just as the clock strikes midnight.  The Elizabeth Dane, a ship that was sunk by the founders of the town a century ago, is back for revenge.  The deadly apparitions come into town hidden inside a fog bank. The film is loaded with suspense and we get to enjoy the slow build as the fog returns for a second night with an even more eerie glow this time.  The fog moves one way but the wind is blowing another which eventually throws up some red flags but not before it's too late for some of the residents.  It is up to a few of the townsfolk to figure out what the spirits want and how to survive their wrath. 

     I had such a crush on Adrienne Barbeau that started back in the late 70's with her appearance as the daughter of the eponymous Maude.  Sometime in the early 80's I saw this film for the first time and it didn't help that boyhood crush at all.  That pleasingly sensual voice just oozed sex appeal as she spoke over the airwaves of what looks to be one of the most beautiful little towns I've ever seen.  The shot (up there ^^ at the beginning of the post) of her walking down the stairs towards the lighthouse that doubles as her radio station blew my mind when I first saw this movie and still takes my breath away every time I see it.  The film offers a few really good jump scares and once again John Carpenter proves that not only can her write and direct a really good horror film he writes music that is nearly as creepy as the films they are in.  While Carpenter is often mentioned as one of the best horror minds because of Halloween and The Thing I think this movie is drastically underrated and Carpenter also proves that sometimes the most frightening things in a horror movie are the things you never see.  With very little blood and gore to speak of this film could easily be released as a PG-13 film today instead of the R rating it received back in 1980.  A solid horror film with tons of atmosphere and suspense to spare which should get more credit than it does.  4 Stomach Pounders with Cokes out of 5!