Opening to "The Fog"

[designanddirection]

The sound of the pocket watch is like a huge plank of wood being slapped with a coffin lid! Always makes me jump. Great beginning to a rather hokey horror. Not Carpenter's finest.

[Dectheboner]

@designanddirection You gotta be kidding.

[belgarde1986]

"The men at the bottom of the sea, out in the water by Spivey point will rise up and search for the camp fire that led them to their dark and Icy death......" Is there any thing more you can say? a great line!

[358073]

GOOD MOVIE

[Aleon38]

THE FOG! ROOOOOLLLLED IN!

[Leostri]

limmy sent me here

[Aleon38]

the scariest thing about this video is that the story was only 2 minutes

[mrfantastic407]

This is actually my favorite part of the movie. Just because Houseman's that awesome.

[jjobie]

Classic.

[freddie26123]

@jjobie

...a cult.

[mr2000aaa]

Lol this was me when i first watched this scene,

"PUT THE FIRE OUT NOW OR YOU'LL ALL BE KILLED!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

that was me

[Encom7]

"The Paper Chase" Part II

[Legitviperz]

at 18 seconds i burst out laughing

[axeamnas]

i believe i was about 10 when i first saw this boy i don't know why but the first time i watched the Fog i was terrified till i saw the blooper reel which i don't think my friend noticed we rented it and the fog was green in that version so i think there was more than one version released. I think the music combined with the suspenseful surprises is what scared me tho

Houseman really set the mood

i like this one better than the remake

[seanki98]

brilliant story but one flaw- he starts at 11:55, and talks nearly 3 minutes- the clock strikes and he says "12'oclock the twenty-first of April"

[britcorefan1]

@seanki98 You need to get yourself a girlfriend mate.....

[MSH68]

You can really see Carpenter progressing as a storyteller from Halloween to The Fog and then culminating in his finest piece; The Thing. He also covers three of horror's major subjects with these movies. A crazed knife welding psychopath, ghosts risen from the deep to exact revenge and finally a shapeless alien that hides inside its victims. I don't think he could have made The Thing without doing this film first. Pacing in The Fog is much better than in Halloween too.

[sibeliandrift]

Probably the last really good, creepy ghost movie made... no FX to speak of... all story, all pacing, just a slow crawl of dread getting closer and closer...

[MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Brilliant opening (apparently a reshoot inserted because the film wasn't long enough), very much the tradiational ghost story we all heard around the campfire which is why it's so effective. Lovely bit where he speaks of the ghosts coming to look for the campfire and the kids glance nervously at the one they're sitting around. You get the feeling Carpenter had Donald Pleasance in mind for the role. One small point, it would've been better if the title had slowly faded in as the camera panned up

[Thrills2010]

I was 10 yrs old when THE FOG came out in 1980. I gotta admit, This movie had a real impact. It scared the holy hell outa me when i was a kid. Now that i'm 40, The Fog still gives me chills. It's a ritual that we watch The Fog EVERY Halloween!

Epic Horror Film!

5/5 Stars

[chroniclerofthe70s]

@Thrills2010 I believe the Fog was released overseas in 1979, then re-released in the U.S. in 1980. I saw it as a kid too and the ghosts scared the beejeeses out me too.

[1974Burnsy]

Today is April 21st,time for one more story...

[piginasack]

@1974Burnsy - My daughters birthday!

[The31415927]

You thought the FOG was scary... the White Christmas... FUCK OFF Screwdriver.

You can dish it out to me from any time you want, you can't take it.

See any Supermodels?

Real Time....wasted.

[barsonbeck]

Love this movie, brilliant chilling atmosphere, proves you don't need gore to scare, the scariest movies leave that to your imagination, love the score too.

[singinsmiley1]

i want to be one of those kids around the camp fire listening to john houseman

[alltogetherseperate]

HOLY SHIT, my birthday is the 21st of April!

[LeBearExtrordinare]

this movie scared the bejaysus out of me as a child :)

[station10444]

When my family bought our first dvd player I bought a magazine that gave "The Fog" for free just to test the player. I loved the movie, I have watched more times than i can remember and could watch it again. It is the movie made me love the horror genre.

I have heard Carpenter saying this movie was not one of his favorites but it is certainly one of mine.10/10

[MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Brilliant, John Carpenter virtually invented the slasher pic but with The Fog we see there's more to him than that, here he makes a classic horror/ghost film and it's epic. One thing though, it should be Donald Pleasance as the old sea dog telling the story

[quadleaf95]

MUCH better than any so called horror movie made these days

[SLX10]

Legendary scene! Love Carpenter's horror work!

[fronio89]

How can you show this without showing the rest ????

[cockneyrobin]

Absolute masterpiece, still sends shivers down my spine when i watch this clip.

Saw the 2005 remake a few weeks back and it was a complete insult to the original

[zandercash]

Carpenter at his best

[kiuhy8]

great film

[iconzero]

Captain Birdseye after a couple of large whiskeys.

[stevesterl]

Scariest movie of all time in my opinion, i was obsessed and terrified as a kid and still spooks me now, im 32.

[maceek1]

I remember my dad taking me to see this in the theater in Point Arena, CA. I was about 8 at the time. We were visiting my grandparents who lived out on the ridge about 13 miles from town. I remember the drive home, late that night, and the fog was so thick and white my dad had to drive about 15 mph. I was so scared. I rode the entire way up to grandma and grandpa's house, eyes clenched, heart pounding, curled up on the passenger-side floorboard.

Ahh, the good old days to be scared!

[kerote11]

@maceek1

I only ever read the book but living in London and knowing the city weel as I do, every time it becomes foggy I think about this book, Michael

[Sxrule]

@maceek1 Yeah I remember my parents letting me watch films when I was 8 that were to scary for most adults, didnt do me any harm! those were the days,

[olivemike81]

So, because someone lit a campfire these ghosts are going to go on a murderous rampage?

[hunkatiel]

This scene alone was better than the entire re-make. I hate it when they butcher classics.

[Stanfordroad]

still gives me chills..

[VocalVerve]

I love this movie. Hardly any gore or special effects and it still scares the crap out of me.

[maceek1]

@VocalVerve

That's what made Carpenter the master of suspense.

Well, up until The Thing. Then the whole gore/shock aspect came into play =)

[BlackChriztmaz]

@maceek1 Ever heard of Halloween 1978?

[dylanlp1999]

i used to watch this 50 times a day when I was 7 lol

[NielsShoe]

Just got this on Blu-ray got halloween on order nothing beats these films for horror justr wish they had re mastered it better.

[MrRowney1]

oh dear another pair of boxers ruined

[FredericaBimble]

@MrRowney1 - Yep...

[keithc1977]

The piano was brilliant. Carpenter is a genius. Late one cold winters night, about 1am, I was at home alone and this came on the TV. I watched it all, and I was afraid to go to bed :)

[DarkW0lfxx]

@keithc1977 Yes, me to ;) never forgotten. a true classic film. old movies are particularly!!

[Hunternet7]

Assault on precinct 13...nuff said.

[KazakhstanKid1994]

Does anyone know the title of the music playing in the backround? it's really eerie, and effective

[FredericaBimble]

@KazakhstanKid1994 - I'm not sure about this particular film but John Carpenter was known for doing the music on his films.  This was probably one of his arrangements. He is a bit of a renaissance man.

[PatrickSchabus]

goosebumps...

[thx291]

I wish the ending of this movie had been as cool as the beginning.

[burtonrules123]

whats with the weird zoom in when he says suddenly?

[mojopin70]

without doubt the music adds much throughout this narrative but his voice is perfect.

[cillysausage]

first time i seen this i was in a small village in scotland called cruden bay, wee seaside place just like in the film and we were camping at slains castle (dracula) right on the sea front, pure brickin it likes.

[Looby75MagicFly]

I loved this film one of my childhood favourite scary movie!....this story scared the shit outta me!

[Hunternet7]

Good Ghost Story..The best Ones are the true Ones..

[demboys18]

A classic way to tell a ghost story. What can I say? I'm a sucker for good ghost stories.

[pianomanmaestro]

Classic Movie! this when movies where good!

[sixgun45]

One of thebest set ups to a horror movie ever, Carpenter tells you in the first three minutes what's about to happen, then shows you. A simple scene really, the spooky story yes, but also the cutting, sound effects and music create a sense of dread right from the start. I never tire watching this, I've seen this at least two dozen times. Has lots of continuity problems and flaws with nauticle terms/wind direction,but still like the original better.

[MrTorture2]

Every summer this movie is coming back to my mind, one of the best of Carpenter's stuff....CLASSIC!

[SkyGuy19961]

Nice voice...

[KISSrocks419]

CRAP! 21'st of April was 3 days ago! Should've reenacted this if iv'e known about it.

[Mwgedd]

One of the friggin creepiest horror movie openings of all time. John Carpenter's soundtrack and direction combined with John Houseman's dark story just sends chills down my spine every time.

[MikeAM78]

Excellent! My favorite John Carpenter movie. A perfectly spooky ghost story with a real moody atmosphere and creepy music. There's nothing like old school Carpenter.

[MrRowney1]

hey everyone its almost the 21 of apr . . . just a few days to go . . . stay away from the fog

[thx291]

"The Paper Chase - The Early Years."

[pbrucpaul]

John Houseman was the best actor I think to deliver this performance. i lived in the Bay area when this was being filmed. I even hiked the area up there where some of the shots were filmed (Point Reyes Station). i remember how that fog rolled in at that time and shrouded the area. No dramatic speech here, but it did have a sort of mystery about it.

[nievesmanuel]

This Story & The Music Is Creepy...GREAT MOVIE

[MrRowney1]

wow dis movie still has a slot on halloween night dont you all agree . . would scare da hell of any young teenager . if shown at da right time and place . . and in da middle of da movie a bright light flashed at da bottom of da door , wilst a little dryed ice blown through the bottom . . yep

[360whiplash]

The 2005 remake had to be one of the worst movie remakes ever. It will never hold a candle to the original one.

[SpaceAceTX]

This was the last movie ever shown before they tore down the drive in theater in my home town, I was in the 8th grade I believe, good times.

[Jacksparrow1869]

now' this is a movie is a legend.....i reamber when i was 10yrs. old me and my brother and cousin...kick back watch this flick thats i we would called it back then thanks John Carpenter , 4 thouse memorys...R.G. S.A.TX

[nick0is0ace]

me and my best mate yous'd to watch this all the time when we were like 17, we used to sit and piss our selves and get pissed, 1.00 was one of our favouite bits.........check that extreme close up lol

[cujo9]

blake was an angry pirate who loved gold and wanted his revenge.

[RIPmyers]

I love this film.

[TI1GER2]

super

[stef1652]

john carpenter was great at putting the right sounds to films this ones a purfect example. his scrips left abit to be desired thow.

[afwoods]

Houseman should have had a bigger role.

[afwoods]

Well said 360. Too bad the rest of the movie blows.

[360whiplash]

One of the best movie intros ever.

[KazakhstanKid1994]

I was just waiting for the old guy to go "right kiddies, goodnight and sleep well!" in a really cheery voice at the end while all the kids were shitting themselves

[GuentherP]

A great opening for a great movie; probably one of the best horror-movies ever. Unfortunately, the remake that came out a year or two ago was total crap.

[adamdicy]

I agree, I seen portions of the remake of The Fog with Tom Welling and I didn't see all of it cause it didn't have what the classic one had which was a excellent cast like Hal Holbrook, John Houseman, Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau and Tom Atkins.

[belgarde1986]

thats so awesome! They don't make movies any more! My grandpa's brother and his crew died when their fishing boat capsiesed out in the pacific ocean. They were out of Newport Bay, Newport,Oregon. God rest their souls and every other who perished at sea. Thanks for posting

[GoIsles80]

Horror movies like this will never exist and i am at that age where i can appreciate it,Halloween-Carrie,the best horror movies ever made especially on the ocean...............John carpenter and Stephen king are absolute geniuses!!!

Thanks for great classics today we appreciate,the best!!!!!!!

[adamdicy]

So true, some horror films today aren't as good as classics like Psycho, Halloween 1 and 2, The Fog, Critters, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, etc. I wanna thank John Carpenter and Debra Hill (R.I.P 1950-2005) for their work on Halloween and The Fog.

[Problembeing]

This film scared me SOOOOO much as a kid. It didn't help that it was set on my birthday, the 21st April :S

[adamdicy]

Your birthday is April 21st, this past April on the 21st if a Fog rolled in your home town, and if so...uh-oh, only kidding in the spirit of Halloween, I thought the Fog was a great movie, although it's remake in 2005 was utter crap.

[Problembeing]

Hahaha. DO NOT SCARE ME!! I couldn't bring myself to watch the new one. I just think these remakes are all too slick, and not scary.

[adamdicy]

I seen the first 30 minutes of the 2005 version of The Fog and I was already not impressed, the 1980 one had a good story of the dead rising and coming back for their gold that was stolen way back in 1880.

[Problembeing]

And what was the piss poor super cool re-invention this time?

[dawnrexgurl]

When I was young when this movie came out I was sooooo scared erie music,listen to the music great score but scary

[GoIsles80]

A truly classic movie and still get the chills seeing the old clips,great actors and great movies............Amc classics.

The Best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Da chills............

[DanIN72]

This used to be on EVERY Halloween in horror marathons

[simmonseen]

Greatful movie.

[stavros286]

great scene, great score, great scare, GREAT FILM!

one of my favorite horror flicks and john carpenters best along with Halloween

[sanshuz]

The music is very eerie.

[thisisrumorcontrol]

0:22 he says its 11:55

2:45 he says its Midnight

[Dac719]

Very good timing to watch it now. It's after midnight on the 21st of April!

[askat33]

first time i saw that opening in english i like both versions english and german :-)

[nezkahveci]

startling and impressive

[GrungyNoah]

Two words : Legendary scene...I can't remember how many times i've see that movie since it first came out, especially that opening sequence...Sheer brilliance with that whole hypnotic, bone chilling, eerie atmosphere. Timeless scene...Carpenter knew how to genuinely scare audiences...

Thanks for posting it up ;)

Peace out

[blakesdad38]

Classic...still give me spine tingling chills when I see it years later. John Houseman was a brilliant actor. John Carpenter is the master of shaping the music around the scene. Simply brilliant.

[DBarns7]

Couldn't have said this better myself. Houseman was a terrific and versatile actor. And Carpenter's music made this scene all the more chilling. A true horror classic.

[shooermagooer]

classic scene!

[guyb99]

one of the best openings ever

[writerblaster]

That's too bad you didn't continue to the main title, trivialbingo! You missed the best way to finish it!

And that 'Happy Halloween' card looks quite ridiculous during all the rest of the year!

[TI1GER2]

geil**************************­********

[sanshuz]

The music is what makes this scene so eerie.

[repelghosts]

thats playing at my front door for all to listen and see on the magic evening....

BOOOO!

Gemma and fam.

[grapevinehorn]

A classic movie! This scared the **** out of me when I first saw it on TV as a kid.

[sanshuz]

me 2 bud.

[repelghosts]

One of my fave scenes of all time in the horror genre..Thank-you so much whoever you are!

Jenna and Da Girlz

[harrybueno1]

muy buena la cancion

un clasico de siempre

[ericpieper69]

Great movie the remade version sucked really bad.

[Balden2]

Alec Beerrrrghhh

[jjobie]

For those into trivia - Houseman's character here is named "Mr. Machen," which is Carpenter's tip of the hat to the late 19th century horror writer Arthur Machen, who inspired H.P. Lovecraft and many others.

[writerblaster]

Where does that "Happy Halloween" come from? Stupid. This is not Halloween but The Fog. Why didn't you let it go until at least the opening title? That was the best part of it!

And why is the image like this? We lost everything! The film was shot in Cinemascope, it's not a TV effort!

[trivialbingo]

Lighten up, Francis...

By the way, they only had the the 'Full Screen' version of the DVD in the bargain bin. Full screen, the same way the Sci-Fi channel airs it-- every Halloween...

[makosharkman]

@trivialbingo sometimes I wish I wrote the Fog as a book but I wasn't even born when the old version cam on oh well.

also do you ever watch movies and shows on Sci Five?

[diztanguy]

i live by the see and i think the movie sucks a lot...no such thing as dead pirates seeking revenge.would you excuse me,someone is knocking on my door...be back in a sec...

HELP ME!HELP MEEEE!

[writerblaster]

I think you're talking about the lousy remake.

[EightiesForever]

Even this first few minutes is better than the whole of that Tom Welling effort. That was one the worst remakes EVER! The Carpenter version wins every time because it is ATMOSPHERIC. The class soundtrack helps too. This is one of my all time faves. I have it on tape, DVD and laserdisc.

[e1992kk2002]

i love this movie. john carpenter did ANOTHER great job with this movie, just as he did with HALLOWEEN. i was about 9 when this 1st came out, & it scared the **** out of me! LOL

[reving19]

Great posting. I wish they had used John Houseman more in the movie.

[LadyAliyssa]

I love this movie and this is my favorite scene thanks for posting this up...

[icantfindanamethis]

were the children

[icantfindanamethis]

gotta be one of the best openers ever

were the children

[Pawn2007]

They made money the old fashioned way, they stole it from some leppers.

[376493]

the original scary captain birdseye

[Lonestarr357]

I just love how evocative the opening reel of this movie is: the imagery, the music (with that beautiful piano) and this story. Nice post.

[Cloud6556]

amazing! only problem being that you missed that bit where it says "Is all that we see or seem, but a dream within a dream?- Edgar Allen Poe otherwise YEY THANK YOU SOOO MUCH ^^

[manicminer2010]

Best opening to any horror film!

[Chadwickzilla]

GREAT!!!

[cuttock]

This man ROCKS.