**The Fog

Sony, 100 minutes, Unrated

DVD $28.99

From the back cover: “From producer John Carpenter comes the all-new retelling of his terror classic, The Fog. Tom Welling (TV's Smallville), Maggie Grace (TV's Lost) and Selma Blair (Hellboy) star in this senses-shattering tale of demonic retribution, directed by Rupert Wainwright (Stigmata) and written by Cooper Layne. Trapped within an eerie mist, the residents of Antonio Bay have become the unwitting victims of a horrifying vengeance. One hundred years ago, a ship carrying lepers was purposely lured onto the rocky coastline and sunk, drowning all aboard. Now they're back, long-dead mariners who've waited a century for their revenge. Seeking out the descendents of those responsible for their deaths, they lurk enshrouded within a supernatural fog of terror. Beware, any and all who stand in their way.”

If you go into this film with the idea of comparing it to the 1980 John Carpenter version you will be disappointed. If you just go into this looking for some fun you will find it. As horror films go it is not all that scary, I am not sure the “Unrated” version is any more gory than the PG-13. There are a few interesting deaths, Dan the weatherman and Aunt Connie come to mind, little real suspense and some so-so special effects. Hard core Carpenter fans can watch for the in jokes, such as Tom Welling’s character, Nick Castle, which is a reference to Carpenter’s friend and collaborator ( played Michael Myers in Carpenter’s Halloween, worked as writer on Escape From New York and Escape From LA) I am told there are other “in” jokes but I am not hard core enough a fan to have noticed them.

Deleted scenes include two that I think should have been left in, an expanded version of Dan the Weatherman’s death and a fireball scene in the town museum towards the end. All in all, a fairly enjoyable way to spend an evening relaxing. - Stephanie L Bannon