Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Hal Holbrook, Janet Leigh, John Houseman
Running Time: 90 minutes
Synopsis: The small coastal community of Antonio Bay is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Lighthouse radio host Stevie (Adrienne Barbeau), church leader Father Malone (Hal Holbrook), and community booster Kathy (Janet Leigh) are preparing for the big day, while hitchhiker Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis) partners with fishing boat owner Nick (Tom Atkins). But the quaint town is built on a dark foundation: a possibly intentional foggy ship wreck 100 years ago resulted in the death of many mariners. Now as midnight approaches, a thick glowing fog appears, and death lurks within.
What Works Well: John Houseman provides an epic prologue with a campfire legend to scare the kids, a perfect foundation for director and co-writer John Carpenter to craft a fine small town ghost story. The residents-under-threat are established with admirable efficiency, leaving plenty of room to build a threatening mood punctuated by several effective jump scares. Hal Holbrook contributes a foreboding elaboration on the town's shameful secret, setting the stage for a frantic third act. The visual effects and cinematography are often outstanding.
What Does Not Work As Well: The absence of a main protagonist dilutes focus among three or four characters. Even within the supernatural context, quite a few inconsistencies bedevil the plot, including the fate of the treasure on that shipwreck from 100 years ago.
Key Quote:
Stevie (over the radio): There's something in the fog!
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