The Fog

R

Released Feb 8, 1980

1 hr. 29 min.

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

75%

69 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

Full Review

Kalin D

I'm more drawn to the scenery than the story. But I still can't wait to see what happens next...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/02/24

Full Review

Lilith M

I think what may have ruined this film were my high expectations going into it, John Carpenter is widely known and I have much respect for everything he creates but 'The Fog' just isn't his best. The beginning drags on for what feels like eternity and, because the story is so focused on the antagonists, the protagonists are not given very depth, of course this isn't the actors fault's this is simply a writing issue. Personally, I find that this film only works as a nostalgia piece, it is very typical '80s horror and I'm afraid to say but just isn't very good. This film is very atmosphere heavy, in more ways than one, and is undeniably not thrilling or scary - it's quite a shame I didn't enjoy this film and I hope to find better terror in Carpenter's other films.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

Brianna B

Not one of my favorite John Carpenter movie

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/12/24

Full Review

Jeff M

After having watched this film, I am now a Jamie Lee Curtis 1978-1981 Horror Run completist. Sadly, this ranks at the bottom of the pile, definitely above the putrid TERROR TRAIN but slightly below the nostaglia of PROM NIGHT. It is fitting that the movie begins with a campfire ghost story provided by the ever irascible John Houseman, because that's what the film basically is - a simple story some old fart would tell at midnight in some sadistic effort to upset children. And let's face it - fog is probably not the most weather-related phenomena that produces fear and dread. And to be frank, I'm not sure even if younger children would find thrills and chills watching robed creatures with glowing eyes who walk slower than my 82 year old dad emerging from fog. For me, this only holds interest as a nostalgia piece, watching familiar faces from my childhood join forces and earn a paycheck. I must say, though, that Barbeau was born to be a radio personality - her husky voice is perfect for late night weather reports and double entendres. Curtis fans may be disappointed, too - although second billed, it's a very minor role with nothing much to do. Followed by a 2005 remake, which I have not seen, so I'm not sure how closely it adheres to this original.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Ryan W

John Carpenter and Debra Hill have crafted another great horror movie. The Fog is not like other horror movies. The movies best elements come out in it's atmosphere and story. Carpenter creates scenes with well driven suspense and characters. It's very entertaining. While giveing you those classic horror 80s vibes. I recommend it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/07/24

Full Review

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John Carpenter

Director

Adrienne Barbeau

Stevie Wayne

Hal Holbrook

Father Malone

Janet Leigh

Kathy Williams

Jamie Lee Curtis

Elizabeth Solley

John Houseman

Mr. Machen

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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

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

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

Jan 29, 2020

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

John Brosnan

Starburst

The Fog sets out to be nothing more than a straight-forward chiller with the emphasis on the shocks rather than the characters or the story and on that level succeeds perfectly.

Jul 26, 2022

Full Review

Travis Johnson

sbs.com.au

Carpenter, a rather minimalist, formally restrained filmmaker even when employing the grand guignol excesses of The Thing, knows when to let pure story do the work, and The Fog is a story about stories.

Oct 24, 2021

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
Executive Producer: Charles B. Bloch
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
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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