The Fog (Directed by John Carpenter ) 1980

A deliciously chilling supernatural horror film from the man who brought us 'Halloween'. 'The Fog' is a relatively simple tale concerning a coastal community which is consumed by an unnatural fog that rolls in from the sea. Of course, this isn't no ordinary fog, because within it loiter all manner of undead spectres who just happy to be the spirits of mariners who perished in a terrible shipwreck a century previous. Such ghouls come armed with fish-hooks and the like and attempt to bump off the locals one by one, until of course the curse of the town is lifted. Whilst many have stated that 'The Fog' is not the greatest horror film of all time, there's something about it's low production values and eerie scenes which give it the status of minor horror classic. The movie stars Jamie Lee Curtis who two years previous had been running from the horror that was Michael Myers in 'Halloween,' and whilst the movie doesn't really offer too many scares it's typically early '80s in its nature and comes with a simple yet spooky synth soundtrack.

The gore scenes are half-decent and the supernatural, and half-rotten mariners a joy to behold as they come marching out of the mist, and so for me 'The Fog' is a sure-fire winner that sums up the early '80s horror scene. It's the sort of film that leaves an icy glow about the place and gives the spine a shudder without really making an impact.