The Fog (2005) Review

 

A coastal town's residents find themselves trapped and fighting for their lives as a mysterious fog rolls in, forcing them to confront the dark history of how their community was founded.

Rupert Wainwright's atmospheric film follows the broad beats and plot of Carpenter's 1980 version, with some tweaks, while Cooper Layne's screenplay offers an additional twist. Expectations should be kept in check, as John Carpenter is simply attached as producer, and Debra Hill, who co-wrote and produced the original, passed away in March 2005 before the film's October release.

Tom Welling, hot off Smallville, largely goes through the motions. Maggie Grace and the excellent Selma Blair, who leaves a lasting impression, do their best with the material they are given. The cast as a whole comes across a little too glossy and clean, echoing the polished teen-horror style of Scream and its mid-2000s imitators rather than the grittier tone of the original.

Its strongest assets are Nathan Hope's cinematography, atmospheric coastal locations and sound design; the soundtrack and Graeme Revell's score stand out as genuine highlights.

Practical elements such as the boat, props and the actors working inside the fog itself can look impressive and occasionally spooky. There is, however, a heavy reliance on unnecessary CGI that undercuts the tension. Memorable moments include a zombie arm in a sink sequence and a car submerged in water, accompanied by a creepy female spook, yet the film repeatedly cuts away and tones down the horror. Shattering glass features heavily throughout. The last act, which includes an array of the dead, is impressive.

As remake go this is nowhere near the heights of the likes of Dawn of the Dead or Night of the Living Dead, or have the edge of Carpenters' Assault on Precinct 13 or Halloween remakes. Had the original 1980 film never existed, the picture might have registered as a mildly effective, even if forgettable horror entry.

Those unfamiliar with Carpenter's version may find it more enjoyable on its own terms, though it remains a diluted and largely unremarkable remake.