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

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Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on 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.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on April 15, 2005, 11:43 AM:

Got this one and i agree it does make good use of the scope screen. Also i do have to say it loses its impact on tv. A total big screen movie only.

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on April 16, 2005, 11:16 PM:

Thank you for this wonderful review. Hats off. If you can find this print...it's a keeper!

CG

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on April 20, 2005, 04:04 PM:

I have watched again the 600 ft Scope digest tonight and the story is very well condensed to one very full reel (too full actually, I had to transfer the print to a 800ft spool). All quintessential scenes are in there. All the long exposition scenes building up to the finale have been left out, so this abridged version is very well paced.
Colours are splendid, very deep blues, rich reds. A couple of night shots are a bit dark. Sound is OK, with maybe too much bass.
And John Carpenter knows cinemascope framing like no other ("In the Mouth of Madness" being an entire lesson of frame construction).

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on April 21, 2005, 09:15 AM:

For years I tried to find a scope print of the Fog in super 8 and always missed it...or it was priced much too high. I'm still looking. I want the whole thing. I've even turned down a reasonably priced 16mm print because it was a tv flat /cut version. I'm wondering if the color has held up on those super 8 fog prints.

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on April 21, 2005, 07:02 PM:

I wonder if this one is worth watching with a fogged lens. [Big Grin]

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on April 24, 2005, 02:19 PM:

A few points on the above:

The 600' version, which I have, was not also released in flat. I agreee that it's very well edited and quite a nice print, but I believe the feature is a sharper.
You would be unlucky if you had a problem with fading - I think the labs Derann used were generally using LPP around the time this was released, and more recent prints would almost certainly be low fade of some sort.

Adrian

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on December 10, 2005, 12:35 AM:

I received my copy of the Feature length "Fog" and I enjoyed the content. But the picture? Very soft in so many spots.. I kept riding the focus. Then riding the anamorphic lens. My print is a dud! I am going to send it back to Derann.
After I screened this I thought maybe it was my machine so I laced up "Grease" in scope. Nope. "Grease" was perfectly sharp!
I wonder....why are some prints sharper than others? I would have thought that if one print was bad..like the "Little Mermaid" they all would be. But I have heard from more than one person that this print is Sharp. Not mine! [Frown]

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on February 26, 2006, 09:24 AM:

the full feature of THE FOG is on deranns march lists.andy

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on February 26, 2006, 09:38 AM:

I suppose like anything they vary from print to print depending who was doing it on the day.
I had the 600 of capricorn 1 twice, one was pretty good the other very very soft and quite hard to enjoy.
Best Mark.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on February 26, 2006, 04:27 PM:

I saw the Fog on the March list..but I wonder...is that mine? I did send it back to Derann...

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on March 02, 2006, 04:08 PM:

Oh dear! I have just bought that copy of their list [Smile]

hope it's not yours Alan [Frown]

Kev.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on March 03, 2006, 08:35 AM:

Kev,
You'll know if its mine because I put it into a Chinon projector and it ate the the first 10 minutes of the film and put a big green emulsion scratch down the middle of the picture....
he he...! [Smile]

Just a joke...

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on March 03, 2006, 06:17 PM:

Gary told me today that it was not your copy, thank goodness [Smile]

Cant wait to see it and get that sound put on in stereo. [Smile]

Kev.

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on September 16, 2006, 01:07 AM:

Hi Kevin,Did you put your copy into stereo yet?.Andy.

Posted by Robert Aragon (Member # 181) on September 16, 2006, 01:16 AM:

GLAD YOU GENTS MENTIONED STEREO! NOTHING LIKE IT.
I have the 600 ft FOG digest, and very nice colours sharpness..would never trade it for anything. Oh, PLUS ,it's IN STEREO! IF you can re-record it. The STEREO tracks add SO MUCH MORE!

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on September 16, 2006, 04:28 AM:

Now i am green with envy Robert.Did it take a long time to do the
Stereo re-recording?.A brillant cut down.I have it myself.Andy.
P.S I take it you used LASER DISC for your stereo re-recording.

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on September 16, 2006, 04:30 AM:

No I have not got round to doing a re record on it yet. Time hasnt allowed. What I can say is that my copy is an early print as its on Kodak LPP stock and not the later AGFA stock which Derann's lab used. Colour and sharpness are great.

Well worth keeping your eyes open for.

Kev.

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on January 29, 2007, 03:26 PM:

Back when this review thread was fresh, I wrote that I had always been looking for the scope feature version of The Fog...and thanks to ebay, I have just received a copy. While one or two mentioned soft focus, my print, obtained used, is absolutely stunning in terms of sharpness and color balance. I don't think I've ever seen a Super 8 print better than this one. The mono sound is crisp and full toned, from bass to treble. The color is a perfect match for the laser disc and is just lovely..without the annoying and unfaithful blue cast that so many of the recent Derann features seem to have. I have Die Hard, for example, and it may be just a tad sharper, but is very UNfaithful to the original color schemes. Too dark , as well. This print of The Fog is as close to perfect as you could want. A joy to watch. I don't know if Derann is still printing this one or not, but I would recommend it to anyone who likes a great showpiece for their Super 8 projector and who likes a good atmospheric , well made ghost/suspense thriller.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on January 30, 2007, 06:03 PM:

Gary- glad to hear of your terrific print. Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine, which was probably in the mid to late 80's.

Can Derann ever live up to some of these fantastic 80's and 90's prints??? They've been getting better in the past year, so hopefully improvements will continue.

Nick.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on January 30, 2007, 08:56 PM:

I saw that on Ebay but I kept wondering..."I wonder if that's my old print...somehow worked its way back to the states...taunting me...teasing..taunting.."!!!!

Now I really know I've been taunted!

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on January 31, 2007, 08:09 AM:

I guess it could be your print, Alan....it was bought from someone in New York State...it came mounted on two blue 1200 foot plastic reels...reel one full..the other about half full. Had little , if any leader at the end of reel one. No splices that I remember...no other distinguishing marks or tatoos. Almost no scratches or blemishes. It was so good I , for a moment , felt like I was back in time at the theater for the first run of the first print of The Fog.

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on January 31, 2007, 10:22 AM:

Gary, your quest is over. What will be your next most wanted title?

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on January 31, 2007, 02:31 PM:

If your print is sharp.. than it wasn't my old print! I can tell you I was riding the focus every 10 minutes.. it was horrible. The color was great though and so was the sound.
Glad you got a great print. Now if you find a really sharp "Little Mermaid"....

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on January 31, 2007, 03:39 PM:

I got a Little Mermaid print a few months ago, but have not had a chance to screen it. I've heard some less than flattering things about the quality.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on January 07, 2013, 11:45 AM:

Well I just finished re-recording this wonderful print in Stereo! Yes and I finally got a great sharp, beautiful looking print.
A couple things I noticed with my print. There is one gory scene that is cut out very early on. Its where the crew on the boat get raided by the FOG. On my print its just one jab with the hand pick but on the DVD its 3 jabs. Is the rest of the prints like this?
Also I noticed on the DVD the color has been muted! The Super 8 print definitely looks better and truer to the original.
The print has the FOG looking blue and glowing. On the DVD the FOG just looks white and billowy. Strange that they changed it for the DVD release.
Great film from John Carpenter and if you like horror a great one to own and re-record.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on January 07, 2013, 01:39 PM:

Yes, it is quite a lovely print.

Mine is in mono, but I have desired to re-record it in stereo.

My wife still jumps at all the scary parts, but I like how John Carpenter kept this film a low key horror outing, where he could have "sensationalized" it as, after all, he did make "Halloween" and could have made it much gorier, but he chose to make it more in the classic style!

Posted by Luis Caramelo (Member # 2430) on January 08, 2013, 06:00 AM:

it,s a great film indeed,i got also the super 8 full leght and the dvd,i agree with Alan ,the color of the super 8 print it,s better,it,s a keeper in your collection...
it,s a timeless terror film.

regards;
luis caramelo

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on January 08, 2013, 06:50 AM:

Back in October I ran my print of the The Fog for my series of Scope horror films at the local library. Audience loved it...jumps and screams in all the right places. Used a GS1200 with f1.0 lens, Fuji lamp on a 16 foot wide screen painted with Steve Osborne's screen paint.

Posted by Timothy Ramzyk (Member # 718) on January 11, 2013, 03:11 AM:

Not to be the devils advocate, but derann (Agfa?) color stocks can lean pretty blue. My HORROR OF DRACULA print was much more cyan in appearance than I suspect was common to the original Technicolor prints.

That said, strong blues would work well for THE FOG, which I prefer to all Carpenter's other films.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on January 11, 2013, 11:52 AM:

Sometimes the bluish cast to the color is not the fault of the film stock. I never ran into a bluish agfa print until Derann's printing of "fantasia 2000" ( a review of that title on this forum in the reviews), but until then, I always found Agfa Derann prints to be much better with overall color than with they're LPP prints of the same title.

There was a good example of that with a print of "Mary Poppins". Someone put up some screenshots of an LPP "Mary Poppins" and it was a fairly bluish print. Gian showed some screenshots of an AGFA printing (by Derann) of that very same title, and the colors were absolutely spot on!

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on January 11, 2013, 07:43 PM:

I think alot had to do with the lab Derann was using in the 2000's. I know of several instances during that period where prints were slightly different in colors, yet from the same negative print source.

James.

Posted by Timothy Ramzyk (Member # 718) on January 31, 2013, 01:49 AM:

My Derann VAMPIRE CIRCUS print from the mid-80's had the best definition and color I have ever seen on Super 8, but my 2001 HORROR OF DRACULA print was definitely blueish as were some of my cartoons from that time. In DRACULA it actually made peoples flesh-tones too pale, even the ones who weren't vampires. [Wink]

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on January 31, 2013, 06:06 AM:

That's very unfortunate Timothy, as I have a print of DFS "DRACULA" and the colour is beautiful,well saturated with no hint
of a colour cast,as was "THE MUMMY" another great print that
proved that Eastmancolour was something to be reckoned with.
It's doubly sad, as it can't be rectified.Was it bought from them
direct at full price or was it reduced, because every now and then
if there had been a foul up at the lab, the faulty prints were often sold as such.I have the "Dracula print of Darkness", that was just a bit darker than usual, but shown through the Fumeo
it looks great, and at £80.00 at the time, I couldn't complain.

Posted by Timothy Ramzyk (Member # 718) on January 31, 2013, 01:08 PM:

My print of DRACULA was purchased new, full-priced, but I still kind of liked it's blueish hue. I reminded me of Cinecolor a bit.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on July 04, 2017, 09:39 AM:

A second thread that reviews this film was started, so I'm closing this topic. That thread can be found here.

Doug

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