Have to state the obvious (or not so obvious)

[Phantom]

I just wanted to say something that (HOPEFULLY) all of you know, or at least most of you will soon understand:

The Fog is one of the best John Carpenter films ever made. In fact, I would seriously rate this somewhere in the best top 10 horror movies of all time. Ever. Hands down. Now, I for one, claim that Halloween is the best horror film ever created. I know that may be a stretch to some, but Im sorry. I honestly think the original Halloween is the best honest horror film ever made, and until someone comes along and outdoes it, it will remain the best horror film ever. I stand behind that claim.

However....

Carpenter to this day still does not get the credit and accolades he deserves for The Fog. True, the special edition DVD that came out recently is helping a gread deal. Ive turned several people on to this film who otherwise hadnt heard of it or seen it. Im sure others have had similar expieriences. But I remember when this film was first done and I loved it even back then. This DVD is one of, if not the most coveted in my rather extensive collection. I love this movie to no end.

Watching it now, I cant help but express my honest unadulterated love for this movie, and I hope that others will see and understand how great of a movie this really is. Hats off to John Carpenter for this gem.

What do you guys think? Am I crazy or is this a really good film?

[Joseph Curwen]

The Fog is a truly wonderful film. One of Carpenters best in my opinion. I can never express enough love for this film. One of the greatest horror movies I have ever seen.

[Charlie Brigden]

I'll possibly get ripped for this, but I think it's equal to Halloween. I saw it when I was really young, didn't really think a lot about it and no doubt didn't understand it, saw it again when I got the DVD and was amazed the flak the movie received. A fantastic movie.

[Mad Dog Mike]

I've only seen it once, and it was pan & scan and chopped up for TV. I'll give the DVD a look, but I remember being bored by this movie. And I usually like Carpenter. Barbeau flailing around on the roof was pretty ridiculous, as were her radio speeches. The movie didn't seem to be ABOUT anything, just a lot of people locking their doors, trying to escape fog. I loved the look of the ghosts, though. Especially in the last few scenes.

As I said, this was on TV. Maybe I'll like the DVD more.

[Nash_Gorfang]

This movie is just another propaganda tool to spread fear and loathing for Lepers, this kind of prejudice needs to stop. Lepers are good kind hearted people, they know true pain and therefor never would never harm another soul. I have boycotted this movie and will continue to fight Mr. Carpenter and his hate-mongering.

Up with Lepers, Down with Carpenter!
Up with Lepers, Down with Carpenter!
Up with Lepers, Down with Carpenter!

[Malacoda]

I saw The Fog when I was thirteen with my cousin. It was on late-night TV, and I don't remember if it had commercials or not. Usually my cousin and I talk and mess around during movies. Not this one. It scared the hell out of us, which, even then, was hard to do.
It is one of Carpenter's best, although not my all-time favorite. That would be The Thing, which scared me even more.

Mmmmmm, I'm sure lepers are more concerned about their faces and fingers falling off than one horror film. And didn't you know all lepers are inherently evil anyway? Otherwise, God wouldn't have punished them so. wink

[Boys #22: elmie]

... While appreciate the enthusiasm for a particular film or director, I think to be considered "great" ( not to mention one of the all-time greats ), a film must have a knockout ending ( among other things ) ... and THE FOG just doesn't have a great end ... In fact, the ending is a letdown ...

What I think is kinda cool is the love for THE FOG: it's not an obvious choice when talking about Top 10 horror films ... Having said that, I don't think it deserves to be considered, but that's just my opinion ... ah, the great debate

[Nail Gun]

I love The Fog and would put it in my Carpenter top 5 probably (let's see, Halloween, The Thing, They Live, Escape From NY, Christine ... The Fog) OK, top 6. It is a great film, and a great exercise in suspense. If you think about it, it shares a lot with Jaws just with a totally horror bent. I love the stuff with John Houseman on the beach. Love the Jamie Lee Curtis character and Stevie Wayne. The scene with the little kid and his babysitter, Mrs. Kobritz.

Also, the production design is amazing. What great atmosphere. I wasn't really scared that much by it but intrigued by the mythology. I'd say The Fog is pretty great.

[Straxboy - An Anthony Hickox Film]

Nah, I'd have to say actually, that for me, The Fog is Carpenter's most atmospheric picture. Just look at the astonishingly pastoral fear-scape that the picture plays out in, exemplified by the exquisite, windswept journey to the lighthouse that Adrienne Barbeau takes, the eerie perma-frosted sunlight stretching toward infinity beyond the lighthouse.

And no matter what the biggest Halloween fan can argue, this hands down has his best set of widescreen-reliant shocks in both the church and Al's boat. Carpenter, it seems to me, both learned and innvated so much on Halloween and honed the skill he developed on that picture which graduated here to reach its peak of excellence in The Thing. But in terms of lean atmosphere (and I watched Halloween and The Fog back to back a week ago)- this one has my heart. That score too...

[HUDSON]

Hey, there is absolutely nothing wrong with fear and loathing! It is a great quality i posess. I fear and i loath!

Yes, i have to agree, that this in one of his best, as well as one of the best in 1980. It sacred the shit out of me the first time i saw it, because i watched it late on night, and the next mourning, when i woke up for school, there was damp fog outside, i got my mom to drive me to school that day!

[Mr. Fat]

I watched 'The Fog' for the first time last night, and I have to say, I found it rather uneven. While overall, an evtertaining and at times very creepy ride, it did have faults.

I mean what was the point of Jamie Lee and her buddy, again? And at what point does it become okay for a leperous ghost not to knock? ***SPOILER*** And with the whole "6 Must Die" thing, it seemed to kill the tension at the lighthouse when you knew the 6th was the priest. And speaking of which.... how exactly was his grandfather a priest at the same church? Wacky Catholics.***SPOILER END***

A fun horror flick? Yes, yes indeed. And a better one than most. But I think it is a bit uneven on a character level to be truly classic. But hey, that's just my 2 cents.