tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post4457086640207462715..comments2024-03-14T02:13:38.885-04:00Comments on Radiator Heaven: John Carpenter Week: The FogJ.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11823190634186509982noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-74348065664245040212010-10-08T13:16:35.798-04:002010-10-08T13:16:35.798-04:00Steve Langton:
Agreed! JC sure knows how to apply...Steve Langton:<br /><br />Agreed! JC sure knows how to apply just the right amount of atmosphere in his films and I absolutely love what he does in THE FOG. It definitely has become one of my faves of his over the years. <br /><br />Thank you for the kind words.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-39494201640723303452010-10-08T11:45:00.995-04:002010-10-08T11:45:00.995-04:00For my money, this is one of the most atmospheric ...For my money, this is one of the most atmospheric genre pics, and one of JC's finest. It's great to see you paying full tribute here with a fine write-up, and fascinating background detail.Steve Langtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759586159893673244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-1924815770284124772010-10-06T09:50:09.880-04:002010-10-06T09:50:09.880-04:00The Sci-Fi Fanatic:
Ah, glad to see another fan o...The Sci-Fi Fanatic:<br /><br />Ah, glad to see another fan of this film!<br /><br />I know what you mean about narrowing down the choices of fave Carpenter films. I finally narrowed it down to THE THING and EFNY.<br /><br />Thanks so much for your insightful, personal reflections on this film. There is just something about this film that I can't quite put my finger on that really resonates with me.<br /><br />As you point out, part of the power of this film is how it gradually builds the tension and dread until finally the climactic confrontation! And this something lacking from so many horror films nowadays who just cut right to the gore or utilize cheap scare tactics that really aren't all that scary. I won't even get into the unnecessary remake but hey, at least they paid JC well for the rights so he's not sweating it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-83920328506075175332010-10-05T11:54:12.438-04:002010-10-05T11:54:12.438-04:00J.D. Love The Fog.
I voted for it on your poll a...J.D. Love The Fog.<br /><br />I voted for it on your poll along with The Thing.<br /><br />Hard to narrow down choices to two by the way. I could narrow down more effectively to five.<br /><br />That image you selected at the opening of your review is the one I remember most. It is the perfect image for your post. The image of the grandmother shall forever haunt me while she protects her grandchild. It reminds me of my childhood and spending many hours, days and nights with my own Gram which may tap into why The FOG hits so hard. Small town, eerie scarefest.<br /><br />I mean this thing just builds and builds and builds like a mother. It is a tension builder- one of the best! As you said it, it should be utilized in a classroom setting. Because the people making horror films today are missing all of this. They are missing it all. They don't get it. They skipped tension 101. They could learn a thing or two from The Fog. The remake a case in point.<br /><br />By the way, your point about Atkins. Carpenter sure did love the man. If it wasn't for Carpenter I wouldn't have seen the actor, but he was always very good.<br /><br />I love your points about the film's town being built on lies. There are so many secrets that are compounded by time. I think Carpenter makes a great ghost story. He captures these elements beautifully, simply and poetically.<br /><br />As your critics would indicate, The Fog was treated nearly as unkind as The Thing, and like most films by Carpenter in retrospect, I think it's perfect. A true classic. Brilliant work J.D.SFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-78502216691364440062010-10-05T10:16:37.021-04:002010-10-05T10:16:37.021-04:00Sean Gill:
Thank you for the compliments, sir!
A...Sean Gill:<br /><br />Thank you for the compliments, sir!<br /><br />Ah, I am quite jealous that you got to travel 'round Carpenter country. I have been out the west coast myself and I can certainly attest to the scariness of the drive along the coast. I stayed in San Fran and also visited Hearst Castle to get my CITIZEN KANE fix. I wish I had time to track down some of THE FOG locales but ran out of time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-52044384301607484662010-10-04T17:34:16.787-04:002010-10-04T17:34:16.787-04:00A fine write-up, J.D., and a great start to the we...A fine write-up, J.D., and a great start to the week! I recently spent some time in San Francisco with my girlfriend, and one day was allotted for a trip outside the city limits- we spent it on a drive up the coast to the Muir Woods and the Point Reyes Station area. The vistas and seascapes are awe-inspiring (and I was able to recognize a few from the film!), but the drive was sort of nerve-wracking (sheer cliff drops and no guardrails!). Didn't make it all the way out to the Drakes Bay lighthouse (it would have been another hour or so round trip, sunset was approaching, and we didn't want to drive those precipices in darkness!), but I did obtain a bottle of Point Reyes wine- which I believe we'll save for our next (impending) viewing of THE FOG.Sean Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-29268989788028546062010-10-04T11:35:58.967-04:002010-10-04T11:35:58.967-04:00Jeff Allard:
I was kinda late getting into this f...Jeff Allard:<br /><br />I was kinda late getting into this film but I really enjoy it and get more out of it the more times I watch it. I'm glad you enjoyed my write-up!<br /><br /><br />le0pard13:<br /><br />Yeah, I do love the atmosphere of this film. It draws me in every time. The combination of Cundey and Carpenter is dynamite and I really wish they had done more films together.<br /><br />Thanks for that bit about the film from Barbeau's book. I've been meaning to pick that up one of these days.<br /><br />As always, thanks for stopping by and for your kind words.<br /><br /><br />Dan:<br /><br />Yeah, the opening scene really sets the tone for the rest of the film with the subtle, creepy atmospheric vibe. I love it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-65239633194122597172010-10-04T10:37:29.514-04:002010-10-04T10:37:29.514-04:00Great start to JC Week! The Fog isn't one of m...Great start to JC Week! The Fog isn't one of my top 5 John Carpenter films but I still love it dearly. From the opening on the beach - which totally sets the scene - I adore the sense of a campfire story being told as night falls. And the film is sufficiently creepy - Carpenter gets the atmosphere just right and you can see how this influenced so many horror films released in the last few years.Danhttp://www.top10films.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-32823727411457836172010-10-03T23:58:11.278-04:002010-10-03T23:58:11.278-04:00I think THE FOG cemented my appreciation for John ...I think THE FOG cemented my appreciation for John Carpenter. It's excellence in atmosphere, and the slow burn you noted, did it for me. I saw HALLOWEEN and THE FOG before going back and picking off DARK STAR and ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13. And Cundey's cinematography on this (along with JC's scene framing) made it such a visually enjoyable piece.<br /><br />BTW, that iconic shot of Blake and his ghost crew at the church is a favorite of mine, J.D. IIRC, Adrienne Barbeau's autobiography mentioned John and her found a house in the Northern California shooting locations byway of doing this film together. I'm with Jeff, on this. One great start to this, my friend! Thanks for this.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-50828425367176398032010-10-03T17:43:13.570-04:002010-10-03T17:43:13.570-04:00The Carpenter blogathon is off to a bang-up start,...The Carpenter blogathon is off to a bang-up start, J.D.! The Fog has been one of my favorites ever since I first watched it on the ABC Friday Night Movie back in the day. Thanks for giving it a great write-up!Jeff Allardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04265550466781988388noreply@blogger.com