The Fog (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

I remember this film seemed genuinely scary when I was 10! Worth watching though, some scenes seem to show there age compared to today’s cgi films, but a good story that you can get into.

When hitchhiker Elizabeth Solley (JAMIE LEE CURTIS) is picked up by Nick Castle (TOM ATKINS) near the small Californian town of Antonio Bay, little does she know the horror awaiting them. The residents are preparing to celebrate the town centennial, thanks largely to the tireless efforts of Kathy Williams (JANE LEIGH), and local weatherman Dan O’Bannon (CHARLES CYPRESS) confirms the skies will remain clear. Yet radio DJ Stevie Wayne (ADRIANNE BARBEAU) notices a mysterious glowing fog, supposedly moving against the wind, approaching Antonio Bay from her lighthouse vantage point. For Antonio Bay hides a deadly secret, discovered by accident when Father Malone (HAL HALBROOK) finds an old journal hidden in the wall of his church. He learns that the original founding fathers of the town took drastic action a century before when a wealthy man named Blake (ROB BOTTIN), a leper, wished to build a colony for his fellow suffers just up the coast. He purchased a clipper and set sail. Horrified, the founders lit a campfire which lured Blake onto the rocks, for an unearthly fog suddenly formed on the ocean and surrounded the hapless vessel. The boat was smashed to pieces and all aboard perished. As fast as it had appeared the mysterious fog vanished. Next day the founders collected the gold found at the wreckage and used it to build a new church and expand the existing town. Yet legend states that if ever the fog returns to Antonio Bay, then Blake and his crew will rise up from the watery depths seeking vengeance… Such is the premise of The Fog, arguably my second favourite JOHN CARPENTER offering after his sci-fi classic The Thing. At only 89 minutes in length, The Fog is not overlong and features his trademark simple, yet highly effective musical soundtrack throughout, while the small budget is put to good use as CARPENTER skilfully blends terror and suspense in several key set-piece sequences. There is a cameo by JOHN HOUSEMAN as Mr Machen, an old sailor telling campfire ghost stories to a group of children at the start of the film, which sets the tone of the chiller perfectly. For many the final church scene lives long in the memory, too! True to the horror genre, some characters do things they should not - like open doors and turn their backs to the fog outside, for instance, and a possible romance between Elizabeth and Nick remains unresolved – but overall the film is a highly atmospheric and enjoyable watch. Viewers (myself included) may also regard Blake and his crew as anti-heroes rather than cold hearted villains who, after all, are only reclaiming what is rightfully theirs and limit the murder spree to the exact number of founding fathers who wronged them a century before. How different to the killers in most “slasher” films where victims are murdered until, it seems, almost entire towns are wiped out! CARPENTER keeps the hysterics and screaming to a minimum, which also makes a nice change for the genre. The Director gives his audience throwbacks to other films and one scene in particular featuring CURTIS is reminiscent of a famous part in his earlier film, Halloween. Furthermore, a Stevie Wayne radio broadcast is a firm nod to the 1951 classic The Thing From Another World which will raise a few smiles considering CARPENTER remade this sci-fi film only a couple of years after The Fog. With few locations and a small cast, The Fog has little time for much character development but still remains a staple of horror storytelling from a master on the subject.

This is a great cult movie with plenty of surprises that make viewers jump out of the armchair - even though you know they are coming! This film was made in the days when it was about conjuring the mood and great storytelling, without the airy-fairy pretentious rubbishy arty shaking cameras of today. The picture quality is not the best for a 4K, but it's still a lot better than my old VHS copy of old. You also get a Blu-ray copy and another with a host of extras too. This would explain the relatively high price tag. Definitely one for the collection.

"NEW RESTORATION" it says in a bold sticker on the front, with "BRAND NEW RESTORATION" printed on the cover. It was this that made me buy it, not to mention it is, to quote the back cover "Stunningly restored in 4K..." Though I'm watching in mere 1080p, I thought that buying a new copy would be worth it. The Fog is one of those movies I've watched again and again. I saw it at the cinema in 1980, and I was, frankly, underwhelmed. Some good points but it didn't hold together at the end. And yet... I keep being drawn back to it. I like it's version of American small town life, which has grown on me in the passing years, even if it seems like a cheap alternative to Jaws. Over repeated viewings I've grown to appreciate the slow build, the suspense and the hints of supernatural stuff. So, I figured, it'll be worth buying a newly restored - sorry, NEW RESTORATION - for Halloween. The film's as good as ever. The surround sound is pretty good, though nothing to test your speakers too much. But the restoration is disappointing. Some of the early scenes, in the dark and the mist, are horribly grainy and made me wonder if I'd got a dodgy copy. Looking at my old DVD copy, this doesn't happen. And whilst the picture may be a little softer, it is less distracting without the grain. So.... you pays your money and takes your choice, as they say. I'm not sorry I've bought it, but I'd think twice if you were buying a new copy. Beware the publicity....

Classic chiller from 1980 still holds up today the shocks still shock as they did back then directed by John carpenter the music score is brooding as was his score for Halloween. Best watched cuddled with one’s partner.

I already have the DVD but I purchased this UK Blu-Ray in the hope that the picture and sound quality would be greatly improved. I am pleased to say that the soundtrack remastering in full 5.1 DTS is a vast improvement over the DVD. As tor the picture quality, well it is an improvement over the DVD, but only a slight improvement. Fortunately, The Fog is such a great film I would always give the movie top marks even if I only had an old & worn VHS tape. As for the Blu-Ray I would award it 4 & a half out of 5, as I believe (based on other purchaser reviews) that a better Blu-Ray of The Fog exists, although it's only a Region A copy, and is therefore incompatible with a UK Region B Blu-Ray player. I can't award a half star so I've rounded up my product review to 5 stars. A great film & a very, very, very good Blu-Ray disc, that's nicely packaged.

Purchased for a friend, she enjoyed it.

Excellent play's without glitches

This movie from John Carpenter is an awesome, classical horror movie and is really scary till the last minute. A timeless masterpiece, it will surely drive you shivers down the spin.

Classic horror movie....one of my top favorites.... Adrienne Barbeau plays a great character... Well worth the money....

Excellent film mais la bande son FR est de mauvaise qualité pour une version « restaurée »

満足しています。

Qualidade de imagem perfeita! Preço top!