‘Fog’—appropriate time, viewing

Press, 1 June 1981, Page 9

‘Fog’ —appropriate time, viewing

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hans petrovic

THE FOG Directed by John Carpenter Written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill On these cold evenings, it seems only appropriate to walk from a film like “The Fog" (Avon) into the equally thick atmosphere outside.

"Croak, croak." Kermit says, explaining that he has only got the fog stuck in his throat. However, for horror aficianados. this film version of nonsense should not be missed.

Nothing much has changed since the drive-in movies of the 19505. when you were glued to your seat, no matter how silly the plot or how bad the special effects, because you could not leave without getting out of the car — and who knew what terrible unknowns lurked outside. There are no drive-ins in New Zealand but people still watch this form of simpleminded entertainment on an evenings outing.

I must admit that I am one of them: Perhaps I should join Atrocities Anonymous as I keep coming back for more. It must be said that the production standard within this genre has improved remarkably during the last 30 years, leaving one with some memorable images to take home.

From the old days. "I Married a Monster From Outer Space" still looks like a case of misdirected plumbing. while "The Blob" still looks like a blob. Today, the back-lighted, fog-shrouded

entities can come across with much more impact. Thank heaven, the need to look for fraudulent Freudian symbolism to explain what used to scare us also has passed. Do you remember "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms." which emerged after an Abomb explosion’’ The point was that the solitary lighthouse. putting out its regular sounds of the horn, was a phallic symbol giving out is mating call to arouse the monster from the deep. How silly could you get in an already terrible film? These days, for a bit of cathartic clap-trap, you and the kids only have to go and see “Flash Gordon” or the latest episode of “Star Wars.”

For something less wayout and closer to the adult's horror-bone, see something like “When a Stranger Calls." “Halloween." “The Fog” or "Friday the 13th” (yet to come) — there is more simple blood and guts in these. Anyway. "The Fog" hops along’ splendidly, setting its scene on the Californian

coast at a place where sailing ships used to get wrecked, where people used to do evil deeds and where even the Church had something to do with it.

Today is the day of reckoning. The evil wraiths of wrath wreathe their way from the sea to land. If you want to see what this bunch of zombies does, go and see “The Fog”; and if you can see your way through this movie you should also be able to find your wav home.