Hi all! 

Welcome back to a fun segment on my blog, where I pit an original horror film against its remake and discuss which one I personally believe is better. You can check out the dedicated category here. There will be a few factors to take into consideration: a.) Does the remake improve the original story, b.) Is the original already so superior, the remake is quite irrelevant and c.) Do both films exist side-by-side, complementing one another in horror cinematic history? For the eighth subject, I am tackling John Carpenter’s, The Fog from 1980 and Rupert Wainwright’s reboot from 2005. These movies tell the story of a strange, glowing fog that sweeps over a small coastal town in Northern California. Remember, it’s okay if we don’t agree. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Round #1 – Improvement

Did the remake improve upon the original? Yes and no. The film from 2005 deepened the plot but also overcomplicated it. The version from 1980 was much simpler. It didn’t have an investigative trope like the remake did. Rather, it possessed more of a survival/paranormal sub-genre. It was punchier and less focused on the details. However, what the modern version did well, was enhance the visuals. A movie made several decades later is typically inclined to look better. In fact, that is why John Carpenter agreed to a remake in the first place. He was unsatisfied with the low-quality production and budget of the original. Despite all of that, there’s something about an 80’s horror that will always charm me. Especially when John and his epic scores are at the helm (pardon the pun). Let’s just call it a tie! 

Winner – The Fog 1980 & The Fog 2005

Round #2 – Relevance

Was the original already so superior, the remake was irrelevant? No. I believe this was a good story to get a modern upgrade. As mentioned above, there were aspects I enjoyed about both versions. I even gave them the same star rating: 3/5. I liked that the remake was sexier and edgier. It had a great early 2000’s soundtrack that took me back to a place and time. However, the original had a better ending and was much easier to follow. Not only that, it featured a young Jamie-Lee Curtis. What more do you need? In fact, that was the true strength of the 1980’s version: the characters. They were much more inviting. I did not care one bit for the one-dimensional actors in the reboot. They were too wooden for my liking. The reboot definitely caters more to the younger generation, but all in all, it comes down to personal taste. 

Winner – The Fog 1980 & The Fog 2005

Round #3 – Cohesion

Can both films exist side-by-side in cinematic history? Absolutely. The remake is not a continuation of the original story. It is an opportunity to upgrade what came before it. The issue with The Fog itself, is its lack of villain. It doesn’t really have a big bad, so the best way to generate fear, is to build on the moody atmosphere. Evidently, the reboot did a better job of that, due to modern technology and a higher budget. Having said that, the original still stands on its own, delivering an eerie, unsettling vibe to the town of Antonio Bay. I recommend watching either of them on a gloomy, cold day with a mug of hot chocolate. 

Winner – The Fog 1980 & The Fog 2005

THE WINNER IS: The Fog 1980 & The Fog 2005

For the first time since launching this segment, we have a tie! I thought long and hard about the original vs. remake and honestly, I couldn’t choose which one was better. They possessed strengths and weaknesses that simultaneously cancelled one another out. I recommend checking both of them out and enjoying the ride. 

Thank you so much for reading! I’ll be back next time to tackle The Haunting. 

Peace & Love xoxo