The Fog

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The Fog

R

Released Feb 8, 1980

1h 29m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Strange things begin to occurs as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone (Hal Holbrook) stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie (Adrienne Barbeau) witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis) discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.

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Critics Consensus

A well-crafted return to horror for genre giant John Carpenter, The Fog rolls in and wraps viewers in suitably slow-building chills.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

Unlike Halloween, which was a model of straight-forward terror and carefully controlled suspense, The Fog is constructed of random diversions.

Jan 30, 2020

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

It's a failure, but it's a failure in the right direction.

Jan 29, 2020

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Will Lawrence

Empire Magazine

Ghoulish, tense and utterly fantastical, John Carpenter's tale of shipwrecked spectres squelching their way through a fluorescent fog to wreak vengeance on a seaside town is a classic campfire yarn.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 29, 2020

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Grant Hermanns

Screen Rant

John Carpenter's The Fog may not have aged as well as some of his other horror classics, but it still generally overcomes most of its issues.

Rated: 7/10

Feb 20, 2025

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Elliott Cuff

Loud and Clear Reviews

It’s a quintessential campfire ghost story brought to life by a master of his craft, and it deserves a place on the pantheon of the esteemed moviemaker’s many filmic triumphs.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 13, 2024

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Cody Leach

Cody Leach (YouTube)

The Fog is a neat twist on the classic ghost story. Carpenter achieves a palpable sense of dread and atmosphere and his score remains a signature piece of the experience he sets out to provide. The characters are unfortunately the weakest element here.

Rated: 3.75/5

Sep 15, 2022

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Antonio O

A true classic that relies on a good story and score rather than CGI and gratuitous gore.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/22

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Shahid K

In my view this is a great ghost/horror film but do not be tired when watching it, make sure you're in the mood for watching a film & be ready for being scared. It really does not take very long for the first & maybe the scariest part of the film to occur too so be ready for that as well. As for the plot of the film, its a good one in my view. A small coastal town (Antonio Bay) somewhere on the Californian coastline is about to celebrate its 100 anniversary and its a town where most of the key leaders of the town, their grandfather's founded the town into what it became. The town while celebrating its 100th anniversary are obviously quite ignorant on its relative short history & therefore are caught completely unaware of the horrors coming their way & why on that 100th anniversary they are about to celebrate! I would also say this one is not just one of John Carpenter's and his partner at the time, Deborah Hill's very best films but its one of the best ghost/horror films of all time in my view.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

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James B

The fog is a great horror film that makes good use of its practical effects.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

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e6 e

The Fog is a masterclass in atmospheric horror, blending eerie visuals with a haunting score to create an unforgettable mood. The cinematography beautifully captures the creeping mist and coastal town setting, while John Carpenter’s direction skillfully builds suspense without relying on cheap scares

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/01/25

Full Review

Micah K

Carpenter does it again!!! Great storyline, wonderful cast, and creepy music. The man shows you that you don’t have to be overly bloody and gruesome to have a great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/25

Full Review

Robbie L

It hasnt aged as well as a lot of films from the era,but it still carrys itself as a template for much inferior films that followed. Great 80s soundtrack adds atmosphere to the creative side. Great lead and well assisted by others,this stand up well against 80s horror.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

Full Review

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Synopsis

Strange things begin to occurs as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone (Hal Holbrook) stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie (Adrienne Barbeau) witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis) discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: Debra Hill
Screenwriter: John Carpenter, Debra Hill
Distributor: RCA/Columbia, AVCO Embassy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 1980, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 2018
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $69.5K
Runtime: 1h 29m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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