Post by Shevy on Jan 18, 2006 21:09:32 GMT -5
Tired of watching the same old horror flicks of today? I agree. Most of the major releases are some of the most putrid ways of wasting your time blankly starring straight ahead. Granted, there are some brilliant horror movies released over the past couple years, but for the most part I find it a very disappointing genre for the mainstream.
That's why I always turn to the classics! Sure, the script may not be as thorough and of course the special effects won't be nearly as good as today's standards, possibly leaving my thirst for gore unquenched. By viewing a movie like The Fog, you, the hopefully un-spoon fed horror addict of yesteryear, may never turn back to another generic horror movie to hit the big screen churned out by the likes of MTV.
The movie takes place in Antonia Bay, California, where the unsuspecting citizens are in for the most excitement they've had in the past 100 years. You see, a strange fog comes in the night and leaves in the morning causing the town to become "undone". What the people don't realize yet is it's not the fog that's the problem, but what the fog contains.
The first thing I'd like to touch base on is the acting. When horror movies became popular again in the '80's, it was always the acting that became the butt of all jokes. I've done my share of laughing at corny slasher flicks and chintz rubber masks, but the only chuckle from me on this film was when I first discovered one of the main characters, played by Tom Atkins, was named "Nick".
As far as the acting goes, I've seen better and I've seen worse, but overall this was a great performance. Adrienne Barbeau (playing Stevie Wayne) and Jamie Lee Curtis (playing Elizabeth) truly stole the show. Another great performance was by Jamie Lee Curtis' real life mother, Janet Leigh (playing town mayor Kathy Williams). Also, I'm not very big into child acting since their talent always appears to be so undeveloped, but Ty Mitchell (playing Andy Wayne) was very believable...especially for a horror film that saw the light of day in 1979.
Why didn't I mention Tom Atkins? I've always found that fans of John Carpenter are big fans of Tom Atkins. This rule doesn't apply to me. I found his character to depend more on being the macho hero (I still can't believe his name was Nick!), and in doing so sacrificed charisma. He simply doesn't play a likable character. He's your average character in a horror movie that could be killed or not killed, but one simply doesn't care. I feel Atkins' best work was in the lackluster film steaming with possibility, Halloween III. One of these days I'll write a review for it, and then you can hear me sing praise for ole Tom since you won't hear any singing here.
For the gore hounds, there really isn't much to see. This ghost story works on giving you the creeps rather than having your date clutching for their mouth. When people become victims, their demise is settled slightly off screen or by being carried into the fog as shadows work the body. Other than a neat little scene on top of the light house towards the end, gore doesn't play much of a factor at all.
Overall, I have to say I love a ghost story. I love to have the creeps. This film doesn't have the same effect on me now as it would have 20 years ago, but none-the-less it would not only be a great addition to your horror-jammed library, but an excellent choice when you're considering renting the sequel to Scream vs. the sequel to Wishmaster.
Rent it. Love it. Tell all your friends about it.
That's why I always turn to the classics! Sure, the script may not be as thorough and of course the special effects won't be nearly as good as today's standards, possibly leaving my thirst for gore unquenched. By viewing a movie like The Fog, you, the hopefully un-spoon fed horror addict of yesteryear, may never turn back to another generic horror movie to hit the big screen churned out by the likes of MTV.
The movie takes place in Antonia Bay, California, where the unsuspecting citizens are in for the most excitement they've had in the past 100 years. You see, a strange fog comes in the night and leaves in the morning causing the town to become "undone". What the people don't realize yet is it's not the fog that's the problem, but what the fog contains.
The first thing I'd like to touch base on is the acting. When horror movies became popular again in the '80's, it was always the acting that became the butt of all jokes. I've done my share of laughing at corny slasher flicks and chintz rubber masks, but the only chuckle from me on this film was when I first discovered one of the main characters, played by Tom Atkins, was named "Nick".
As far as the acting goes, I've seen better and I've seen worse, but overall this was a great performance. Adrienne Barbeau (playing Stevie Wayne) and Jamie Lee Curtis (playing Elizabeth) truly stole the show. Another great performance was by Jamie Lee Curtis' real life mother, Janet Leigh (playing town mayor Kathy Williams). Also, I'm not very big into child acting since their talent always appears to be so undeveloped, but Ty Mitchell (playing Andy Wayne) was very believable...especially for a horror film that saw the light of day in 1979.
Why didn't I mention Tom Atkins? I've always found that fans of John Carpenter are big fans of Tom Atkins. This rule doesn't apply to me. I found his character to depend more on being the macho hero (I still can't believe his name was Nick!), and in doing so sacrificed charisma. He simply doesn't play a likable character. He's your average character in a horror movie that could be killed or not killed, but one simply doesn't care. I feel Atkins' best work was in the lackluster film steaming with possibility, Halloween III. One of these days I'll write a review for it, and then you can hear me sing praise for ole Tom since you won't hear any singing here.
For the gore hounds, there really isn't much to see. This ghost story works on giving you the creeps rather than having your date clutching for their mouth. When people become victims, their demise is settled slightly off screen or by being carried into the fog as shadows work the body. Other than a neat little scene on top of the light house towards the end, gore doesn't play much of a factor at all.
Overall, I have to say I love a ghost story. I love to have the creeps. This film doesn't have the same effect on me now as it would have 20 years ago, but none-the-less it would not only be a great addition to your horror-jammed library, but an excellent choice when you're considering renting the sequel to Scream vs. the sequel to Wishmaster.
Rent it. Love it. Tell all your friends about it.
