Movie Review

The Fog (PG-13)

Brian Marder

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Hollywood.com Says
This Fog redo is for the teenagers--glossy, peppered with pretty people and not nearly as terrifying as the original.

Story
There's a fog bank on the horizon of Antonio Bay, a small, seaside town in Northern California. No big whoop. Fog rolling in is to the No. Cali inhabitants what a strong snowstorm is to New Englanders--a reason to stay indoors. But in Antonio Bay, mysterious things happen in the fog; those who go in it don't always come out. So, as the small town readies for the 100-year anniversary gala to celebrate its founders, who killed a boatful of lepers to get there, those long-deceased mariners get ready to crash the party. They come in the fog and hunt down their murderers' relatives--and spare no one, except perhaps the two prettiest people on the screen, Nick (Tom Welling) and Elizabeth (Maggie Grace). Or will they be spared?

Acting
Acting in The Fog isn't nearly as important as the ability to brood, appear chiseled or scream. Welling does his part as Grace does hers. Welling--known for his Superman role on WB's Smallville--at least has looks like a leading man. Still, until he sheds the teeny bopper hit and takes on meatier roles, he'll be forever relegated to beefcake characters like this. Grace--from ABC's Lost--has the horror chops as well as good looks. Her screams are loud and pervasive, but she, too, is bogged down by a limited script. And Selma Blair is fine as a single mom, but she's simply much better than this.

Direction
Director Rupert Wainwright has directed two films prior to The Fog, but let's just say it's a good thing John Carpenter served as producer. He was no doubt an on-set mentor to the British director. It's clear that Carpenter imparted his wisdom, voice and stamp on the film, because some of the scenes are actually jump-worthy. But while there aren't many monstrous flaws in the film, there are a lot of little ones, which are transparently deflected by the chilling soundtrack--even if the scene's mood doesn't call for it. The faults--namely, a tangible lack of clarity--can only fall on Wainwright, because, well, Carpenter already turned this movie into a hit in 1980.

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Everyone's a Critic

“Carpenter's gorgeous wide-screen cinematography or eerily unhurried pacing--in other words, without the finest things about the original--Wainwright's Fog proves successful only at blowing."
Nicolas Schager, Slant Magazine

“…it’s refreshing to see a contemporary horror movie that eschews the usual splatter effects in favor of something more stylishly old-fashioned."
Frank Swietek, One Guy’s Opinion

“The Fog is the latest movie from the Hollywood chop-shop mentality of taking half-witted horror movie plots, cleaning them up to PG-13 standards, and then giving the latest and greatest teenage market television actors a shot at the big screen by allowing them to “act” in the travesty."
Joshua Tyler, Cinemablend.com

“There are few excuses that Stigmata director Rupert Wainwright could use for the hack job that this remake of John Carpenter’s The Fog became."
Kevin A. Ranson, Moviecrypt.com

“The Fog is the second absolutely atrocious remake in 2005 of a John Carpenter movie."

Chuck O’Leary, Fantastica Daily