Horror Films with Creepy Fog
These are films that use fog to create an eerie and creepy atmosphere. In some of the films that make this list, the fog serves a sinister purpose. For this list, fog plays a prominent role in the plot and the setting. These films literally make fog terrifying.
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- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsThomas JaneMarcia Gay HardenLaurie HoldenA freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.Any film that utilizes fog the way The Mist does will make you afraid of fog. The Mist uses fog as a cloak to hide some of the most terrifying creatures ever seen in a Stephen King novel or film adaption. When the opening sequence shows the Mist coming into the town, it looks like a massive tidal wave. The Mist moves very quietly and swiftly, almost like its water but with no sound.
Note...there's debate as to how or even why the Mist exists. However, there's one interesting theory I've heard that explains the mist. While its obvious the creatures used the fog to conceal themselves as a cloaking device, the theory I've heard suggests the fog or mist came into our world when a portal was opened by the military. This world or dimension where these creatures lived was covered with the mist, which came into our world when this portal was opened. Hmm... - DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsAdrienne BarbeauJamie Lee CurtisJanet LeighAn unearthly fog rolls into a small coastal town exactly 100 years after a ship mysteriously sank in its waters.Just as The Mist conceals evil, the same concept applies to The Fog. One interesting thing about this film is John Carpenter, the director and writer of The Fog, states in many interviews that the film, "The Crawling Eye," was an influence in his making this film. He liked the concept of an evil hiding in the fog.
- DirectorQuentin LawrenceStarsForrest TuckerLaurence PayneJennifer JayneA series of decapitations on a Swiss mountainside appear to be connected to a mysterious radioactive cloud.This film influenced so many film makers to include John Carpenter. Also known as, "The Trollenberg Terror," the fog is also concealing an evil as well. This is the first film that shows evil beings using fog as a cloaking device to conceal themselves from others on purpose. While these creatures hide in a cold climate, they manipulate the fog as they move about a mountainous area.
- DirectorAlejandro AmenábarStarsNicole KidmanChristopher EcclestonFionnula FlanaganIn 1945, immediately following the end of Second World War, a woman who lives with her two photosensitive children on her darkened old family estate in the Channel Islands becomes convinced that the home is haunted.While fog is used to conceal evil in some films, in "The Others," the fog seems to represent the fog (in figurative terms) the main characters are experiencing in terms of their fates. Not to spoil anything here, the main characters are clueless about their fate. Once they discover and understand their fate, the fog lifts.
- DirectorChristophe GansStarsRadha MitchellLaurie HoldenSean BeanA woman, Rose, goes in search for her adopted daughter within the confines of a strange, desolate town called Silent Hill.Based on a video game by the same name, the fog the town of Silent Hill is dealing with is caused by one of the characters, who uses the fog in a dark dimension that was created out of rage. The fog engulfs the town by day and by night. We discover later the fog is a part of a dark dimension. Due to this fact, the fog is very prominent in the film and in one scene, is used as an indicator of the parallel dimension.
- DirectorJohn Llewellyn MoxeyStarsPatricia JesselDennis LotisChristopher LeeA young college student arrives in a sleepy Massachusetts town to research witchcraft; during her stay at an eerie inn, she discovers a startling secret about the town and its inhabitants.The fog used in this film seems to serve two purposes. First, to deter people from finding the town and second, to conceal evil. While the film doesn't discuss the fog, it could be caused by the evil witch in the film. Either way, the fog does help to add to the eeriness of the film.
- DirectorEdgar G. UlmerStarsRobert ClarkeMargaret FieldRaymond BondAs a mysterious planet hurls itself toward Earth, an enigmatic extraterrestrial scout arrives on a remote Scottish island with unknown intentions.The fog here in, "The Man from Planet X," isn't caused by any unnatural forces. Its mainly due to the location of the story, which is on a small isolated island off the coast of England. By day, the area is clear but the fog moves onto the island by night. It works here because the fog adds to the eeriness of the atmosphere.
- DirectorRoger CormanStarsVincent PriceDebra PagetLon Chaney Jr.Charles Dexter Ward arrives at a small village to visit the house he inherited from his ancestor who died there 100 years ago.This film uses fog to not only add to the eerie atmosphere, it also uses it as a backdrop. Similar to The City of the Dead, the fog seems to creep into the landscape and depresses all the citizenry of the small town the story takes place in. The film also implies that one of the characters, Joseph Curwen, maybe responsible for the fog, despite his being dead for many years.
- DirectorLewis AllenStarsRay MillandRuth HusseyDonald CrispA composer and his sister discover that the reason they are able to purchase a beautiful gothic seacoast mansion very cheaply is the house's unsavory past.This film's fog, like in The Man from Planet X, seems to be caused by location. The story takes place on an island off the coast of England. The fog there only comes in with the tide at night in this film.
- DirectorGeorge WaggnerStarsClaude RainsWarren WilliamLon Chaney Jr.Larry Talbot returns to his father's castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman. One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where they meet a mysterious gypsy fortune teller.I always thought the film makers behind The Wolf Man took fog over the top. During the day, the village this story takes place in is clear and sunny. The fog seems to move into the area at night. In many scenes, especially those that take place in the forest, the film makers seem to over do it with the fog. However, it works for the film and the Wolf Man uses the fog to conceal his presence until he reveals himself to his victim.
- DirectorJacques TourneurStarsDana AndrewsPeggy CumminsNiall MacGinnisAmerican professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshipper Julian Karswell.This film is very discriminate in how and when it uses fog. During many of the scenes, the area is clear, regardless of the time. We tend to see fog/smoke whenever the evil entity appears, which is used to conceal the demon. There are times when we will see fog but it acts as a backdrop and creates atmosphere.