By APRIL REYNOLDS

akr001@latech.edu

 

This remake of John Carpenter’s 1980 version of “The Fog” was a complete waste of film, time and effort.

Director Rupert Wainwright (“Stigmata”) does a poor job of captivating and thrilling in this disappointing effort of a horror movie.

The plot, with all of its potential, is wasted on unrealistic, Disney-looking ghost figures, a shoddy script and poor sound effects.

The “fog” is a ghost-filled cloud of lepers who are murdered by the town’s founding fathers after they are falsely promised shelter. One night in this seaside town in Northern California, the ghosts arise to avenge their murders on the descendants of their killers.

When the thick eerie fog infiltrates the town the survival of the locals (Tom Welling, Maggie Grace and Selma Blair) depends on out-witting it or staying out of its way. Spooner (DeRay Davis), who is first thought to be the killer, even hides in a freezer to escape it. This is the most successful action of all the acting. 

Juvenile attempts at horror include the repetition of knocking sounds on doors before the “fog” attacks.

The ghosts’ ship, which also appears in the fog, seems like a kiddy horror version of Captain Hook’s ship. Basically, such cheesy depictions and sounds are characteristic of the movie.

There is no depth to the script, which is at best ambiguous. He introduces scenes and concepts and never concludes them.

 Of all the unclear aspects, the “fog” leaves when the ghost ship’s captain is united with character Elizabeth, who looks like his former love.

Was she his love? Who knows? Wainwright never explains how she is connected to him.

Wainwright should have focused less on picture-perfect actors and corny digital special effects and more on the story, the characters and the music.

This film could not have been any worse. It would have been better if the reel stopped and they had to refund the audience.

Overall, there is no suspense, the deaths are weak and the “fog” too often appears too unrealistic to be horrifying. It is just too thick, like heavy, downtown city smog.

Ultimately, avoid the “fog.” All pollution is bad.