This is not a review of John Carpenter's The Fog. It's just a "quick note" written in advance of Rupert Wainwright's remake which, despite truly lousy reviews, Wainwright's version has managed to top the US box-office this weekend.

Those hostile US critics haven't contented themselves with rubbishing the remake: several have had a pop at the Carpenter version as well, dismissing it as "not one of his best" or even worse. In the latter camp: Kyle Smith of the New York Post: I was held in suspense throughout The Fog, aching to learn the answer to its central riddle: Why would any one remake such a crummy movie?

I'm afraid I can't let such comments go unchallenged. The Fog is my favourite John Carpenter film, and has often bobbed up into my all-time top ten. The brisk 89-minute running-time is only one reason why it's probably the film I've watched most often over the years - I may well be in imminent danger of wearing out my VHS copy. So please don't be put off digging out the DVD or catching a TV screening if you get the chance: this is one of the great horror movies.

Neil Young
17th October, 2005
(revised 22nd February, 2006)

THE FOG : [10/10] : USA 1980 : John Carpenter : 89 mins