8mm Forum: John Carpenter's "The Fog"

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Topic: John Carpenter's "The Fog"

James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted April 14, 2005 05:29 PM

This movie was released to theaters in 1980. John Carpenter had made a real name for himself with "Halloween" two years earlier. I must admit that I was a little disapointed when I first saw The Fog at the movies (I was 17). To many teenage diehard horror movie fans, The Fog did not live up to their "slasher" expectations. As I've gotten older and wiser (I hope), and long out grown the "slasher" movies of the 70's and 80's, this movie has aged quite well. The scope cinematography is beautiful, and John Carpenter's score is perfect (things that I never noticed as a teenager [Cool]

) I have come to appreciate this movie more now.

This was released by Derann in the early to mid 80's, 1983 I think. Derann released this several years before they released "Halloween". It was released in full length and a 600 foot digest, both in Cinemascope. I think Derann might have released a flat version of the digest as well, but I cannot confirm this. A trailer was also released (flat).

I have the feature and the trailer, but have not seen the digest. Maybe someone out there who has the digest could add a review to this thread. On with the review-

"The Fog", super 8 full length, cinemascope, 3 x 600 foot reels. by Derann.

A small town is under a curse that every hundred years, ghost "lepers" must terrorize and kill several people. They travel via large patches of fog at night. Adrien Barbeau plays a radio D.J. who works from a lighthouse right at the waters edge, which enables her to broadcast to the townsfolk when the fog approaches.

This super 8 feature is superb. It starts with the neat old Avco-Embassy logo that was popular with these types of movies in the late 70's (and that have been changed on video versions I've seen). Then we see the late great John Houseman telling ghost stories to fearful children around a camp fire. Then the eerie credit sequence, in which we see all sorts of wierd things happening around town. Then, the first killing of several men on a fishing boat. Etc...

As I mentioned above, the cinematography is fantastic, and comes across very well in the super 8 format. The night scenes are well lit, especially on all the scenes where the fog is rolling through the town. The picture is very sharp, and the sound is very strong (mono). The movie fills all three 600 foot reels very nicely, and each comes in its own folding white cardboard box with somewhat plain labels (my only complaint).

I believe this is still available from Derann, and it does pop up on used lists from time to time. I recommend this to all horror/suspence fans, or those looking for good scope material.

The Fog (trailer) by Derann, super 8, on 50 foot reel.

available FLAT only.

This trailer is terrific! It's done in that classic campy B movie 70's style. Very fast paced, with lots of scenes of the fog and John Carpenter's score. Complete with photos of the cast at the end as the narrator states each one's name (you remember they used to do that on most trailers back then [Smile]

) Excellent picture and sound on this as well. I only wish it was available in scope like the feature [Frown]

Recommended.