MGM nicely manages here to bonus its 2002 DVD release of John Carpenter's 1980 horror film THE FOG with a good many appealing special features, of which this 1980 promotional "documentary" offers the least amount of value. A bit of poorly transferred footage from the original is utilized, but in the main for this concise (eight minute) affair interviews predominate, of Carpenter, producer Debra Hill, along with female players Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis and Janet Leigh, all necessarily lacking those production details that viewers find of relevance concerning an ingenious thriller structured from a screenplay that is intent upon sleight of hand. TALES FROM THE MIST, a latter-day item made especially for the MGM DVD package, offers a great deal more of merit, with only the Curtis monologue repeated from this work, and gives due credit to a proficient editing process that becomes the cardinal reason for the cultish success of THE FOG. Perhaps the most telling aspect of this piece is limned by the mentioned disparity in quality between it and the recent documentary, the latter a more appropriate supplement to a cleverly cobbled feature film.
3 Reviews
"I don't make films to get good reviews." - Just as well John, just as well...
poolandrews19 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog' is a 7 and one half minute long documentary that interviews John Carpenter, Debre Hill, Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis & Adrienne Barbeau in relation with the original The Fog (1980).
No one says anything particularly interesting or insightful & at a paltry 7 minutes they aren't given the chance. I'd say Barbeau comes across the best in this while Jamie Lee Curtis admits she doesn't like horror films & her real life mother Janet Leigh still can't seem to stop talking about Psycho (1960).
There are a few clips from the film itself & the interviewees are filmed against a boring blue background while they mumble about nothing in particular.
Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog' was made at the time The Fog came out in 1980 so it's obviously dated & was probably intended to air on TV as some advance promotion (it's clear the film hadn't been released at the point the interviews were conducted or that the cast members hadn't seen the finished film) so in that regard it was never meant to be anything more, the makers weren't going to know that MGM was going to stick it on their DVD did they? As a free extra on a DVD it's alright, it's watchable but utterly forgettable & it makes you wish it was longer & that more pertinent questions were asked.
No one says anything particularly interesting or insightful & at a paltry 7 minutes they aren't given the chance. I'd say Barbeau comes across the best in this while Jamie Lee Curtis admits she doesn't like horror films & her real life mother Janet Leigh still can't seem to stop talking about Psycho (1960).
There are a few clips from the film itself & the interviewees are filmed against a boring blue background while they mumble about nothing in particular.
Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog' was made at the time The Fog came out in 1980 so it's obviously dated & was probably intended to air on TV as some advance promotion (it's clear the film hadn't been released at the point the interviews were conducted or that the cast members hadn't seen the finished film) so in that regard it was never meant to be anything more, the makers weren't going to know that MGM was going to stick it on their DVD did they? As a free extra on a DVD it's alright, it's watchable but utterly forgettable & it makes you wish it was longer & that more pertinent questions were asked.
Featurette Does Its Job
Michael_Elliott17 January 2012
Fear on Film: Inside The Fog (1980)
*** (out of 4)
Promotional film on the making of John Carpenter's THE FOG. This type of film has one goal and that is to get people interested in the main film and overall I think this short does just that. We get a few clips from the movie but the majority of the running time features interviews with Carpenter, Debra Hill, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh and Adrienne Barbeau. Carpenter talks about wanting to do something different from HALLOWEEN and why he doesn't make movies for the press. Barbeau talks about the physical nature of the role as well as making a movie with Carpenter who she was dating at the time. Leigh talks about making people scared and shares the fact that PSYCHO caused her to never take showers again. Curtis talks about getting to work with her mother and why in general she doesn't like horror films. Fans of the genre will enjoy listening to the stories as all five people are quite entertaining. There's nothing told in great detail but again, this short was made to make people interested in seeing the film.
*** (out of 4)
Promotional film on the making of John Carpenter's THE FOG. This type of film has one goal and that is to get people interested in the main film and overall I think this short does just that. We get a few clips from the movie but the majority of the running time features interviews with Carpenter, Debra Hill, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh and Adrienne Barbeau. Carpenter talks about wanting to do something different from HALLOWEEN and why he doesn't make movies for the press. Barbeau talks about the physical nature of the role as well as making a movie with Carpenter who she was dating at the time. Leigh talks about making people scared and shares the fact that PSYCHO caused her to never take showers again. Curtis talks about getting to work with her mother and why in general she doesn't like horror films. Fans of the genre will enjoy listening to the stories as all five people are quite entertaining. There's nothing told in great detail but again, this short was made to make people interested in seeing the film.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
