Paladin
10-19-2005, 08:36 PM
The Fog, starring Tom Welling, Elizabeth Williams, Selma Blair, DeRay Davis, and Rade Serbedzjia. Directed by Rupert Wainright.
When I saw the skeletons in The Pirates of the Caribbean, I thought immediately that they would have been perfect in The Fog. The Fog, a 1980 film by low-budget movie master John Carpenter, told the story of a ship full of vengeful ghosts who come back seeking justice against a small, isolated village on the Oregon coast. To give any information on why they were vengeful or what they were seeking justice for would give away too much of the plot. Suffice it to say it's probably the most well-reasoned, believable "vengeful spirit" plot since "The Headless Horseman"... better even.
The major problem with the original movie was the undead sailors, which looked very much like puppets and marrionettes made from medical model skeletons, with some light bulb eyes for added spookiness. They absolutely killed the suspension of disbelief necessary to really call the original a horror movie...it was a well crafted ghost story, but stumbled on the visuals.
Fast-forward 25 years and the special effects have caught up with the script. I honestly haven't seen the original recently enough to comment on how much of the personal relationships between the characters have been changed. I also don't have a problem with the new 90120-esque cast, because if you watch the original, it had it's share of young good-looking cast members... they are a horror movie staple. And make no mistake, this version of The Fog has the visuals to truly be called a horror movie. It is also, thankfully, still a cracking good ghost story. There seemed to be more flashbacks in this version, and less of Stevie Wayne (Blair) on the radio (she owns her own private radio station, which she broadcasts from the old lighthouse, and it serves as an interesting way to tie the movie together...in both versions). There are definitely some character changes, and the ending is significantly different, but at other times it is nearly a shot-for-shot remake.
I'm not a big horror movie person. I prefer my restless dead to be dispatched through the use of heavy firepower. And to be honest, there were scenes where I had my eyes shut... so I technically didn't "see" the whole movie. But I thought it was really good, much scarier than the original, and for the most part just as well acted (meaning there's some that's really pretty good and some that's less so, it is a horror movie after all). Only Father Malone (Adrian Hough) really felt out of place in this version, and I'm willing to chalk that up to the script changes rather than the acting.
If you like horror movies, or want to enjoy a good ghost story for Halloween, I recommend seeing it. If you liked the original, I don't think you'll be disappointed by the remake. If horror isn't your cup of tea and you didn't like the original, this one won't change your mind about either thing.
On the smiley scale (1=low 4=high):
Fun: :bg: :bg: :)
Thrills: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Comedy: :p
Brain-Candy Factor: :jester: :jester: :jester:
When I saw the skeletons in The Pirates of the Caribbean, I thought immediately that they would have been perfect in The Fog. The Fog, a 1980 film by low-budget movie master John Carpenter, told the story of a ship full of vengeful ghosts who come back seeking justice against a small, isolated village on the Oregon coast. To give any information on why they were vengeful or what they were seeking justice for would give away too much of the plot. Suffice it to say it's probably the most well-reasoned, believable "vengeful spirit" plot since "The Headless Horseman"... better even.
The major problem with the original movie was the undead sailors, which looked very much like puppets and marrionettes made from medical model skeletons, with some light bulb eyes for added spookiness. They absolutely killed the suspension of disbelief necessary to really call the original a horror movie...it was a well crafted ghost story, but stumbled on the visuals.
Fast-forward 25 years and the special effects have caught up with the script. I honestly haven't seen the original recently enough to comment on how much of the personal relationships between the characters have been changed. I also don't have a problem with the new 90120-esque cast, because if you watch the original, it had it's share of young good-looking cast members... they are a horror movie staple. And make no mistake, this version of The Fog has the visuals to truly be called a horror movie. It is also, thankfully, still a cracking good ghost story. There seemed to be more flashbacks in this version, and less of Stevie Wayne (Blair) on the radio (she owns her own private radio station, which she broadcasts from the old lighthouse, and it serves as an interesting way to tie the movie together...in both versions). There are definitely some character changes, and the ending is significantly different, but at other times it is nearly a shot-for-shot remake.
I'm not a big horror movie person. I prefer my restless dead to be dispatched through the use of heavy firepower. And to be honest, there were scenes where I had my eyes shut... so I technically didn't "see" the whole movie. But I thought it was really good, much scarier than the original, and for the most part just as well acted (meaning there's some that's really pretty good and some that's less so, it is a horror movie after all). Only Father Malone (Adrian Hough) really felt out of place in this version, and I'm willing to chalk that up to the script changes rather than the acting.
If you like horror movies, or want to enjoy a good ghost story for Halloween, I recommend seeing it. If you liked the original, I don't think you'll be disappointed by the remake. If horror isn't your cup of tea and you didn't like the original, this one won't change your mind about either thing.
On the smiley scale (1=low 4=high):
Fun: :bg: :bg: :)
Thrills: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Comedy: :p
Brain-Candy Factor: :jester: :jester: :jester: