John Carpenter’s The Fog Creeps onto VHS with Two New Vice Press Collector’s Editions
Physical media collectors have another reason to clear some shelf space this autumn, as Vice Press Home Video has announced two brand-new VHS editions of John Carpenter’s supernatural horror classic The Fog.
Available under licence in the UK through Vice Press, both editions are priced at £34.99, celebrating one of Carpenter’s most atmospheric films with beautifully designed retro packaging that perfectly captures the spirit of the VHS era.
While 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray continue to dominate the collector’s market, Vice Press has carved out a unique niche by embracing the nostalgic appeal of VHS. Their premium releases are designed less as replacements for modern formats and more as highly collectible display pieces, recreating the excitement of discovering horror classics on the video shop shelves during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Few films feel more appropriate for the format than The Fog.
Released in 1980, The Fog was John Carpenter’s follow-up to the enormous success of Halloween. Rather than attempting to recreate the slasher formula that had made Michael Myers a horror icon, Carpenter shifted towards classic ghost stories, crafting an atmospheric supernatural thriller inspired by pirate legends, campfire tales and old-fashioned gothic horror.
Set in the sleepy coastal community of Antonio Bay, the story unfolds exactly one hundred years after a terrible act of betrayal. As the town prepares to celebrate its centenary, a mysterious glowing fog begins rolling in from the sea, carrying with it the vengeful spirits of murdered mariners who have returned to claim those descended from the people responsible for their deaths.
Unlike many horror films of its era, The Fog relies less on graphic violence and more on atmosphere, mood and suspense. Carpenter’s haunting synthesiser score, Dean Cundey’s striking cinematography and the film’s slow-building sense of dread combine to create an experience that has only grown in reputation over the decades. Today, it is widely regarded as one of Carpenter’s finest works and remains a cornerstone of supernatural horror cinema.
The cast is equally impressive, featuring Adrienne Barbeau as late-night radio DJ Stevie Wayne, alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Atkins, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook and John Houseman, whose unforgettable opening campfire story immediately establishes the eerie tone that follows.
Vice Press is releasing the film in two distinct VHS editions, giving collectors the choice between modern commissioned artwork and a more traditional presentation.
The Slipcase Edition features brand-new artwork by Creepy Duck Design, housed inside a sturdy cardboard slipcase. Inside sits a striking clear VHS cassette, designed to resemble swirling fog, while the overall packaging and tape labels have been created by regular Vice Press collaborators Matt Ferguson and Florey. The release is presented in PAL format with an approximate running time of 85 minutes.
Collectors looking for something closer to the traditional rental store experience may instead opt for the Collector’s Edition. This version arrives inside a classic clear clamshell VHS case, complete with a reversible sleeve. One side features newly commissioned artwork by Matt Ferguson, while the reverse showcases the film’s iconic original theatrical poster artwork. It also includes a traditional black VHS cassette, again featuring packaging and label design by Matt Ferguson and Florey, and is likewise presented in PAL format with an approximate runtime of 85 minutes.
Both editions are produced and sold under licence in the UK by Vice Press Ltd. and carry an RRP of £34.99, with availability through retailers including Zavvi.
The resurgence of VHS collecting may have seemed unlikely just a decade ago, but boutique companies such as Vice Press have demonstrated that nostalgia remains a powerful force within the physical media community. These releases aren’t intended to replace the pristine image quality of 4K restorations. Instead, they celebrate an era when horror fans first discovered classics like The Fog on chunky videotapes with striking cover art that often proved every bit as memorable as the films themselves.
For John Carpenter fans, these editions also make a fitting companion piece alongside the many premium Blu-ray and 4K releases that have appeared over recent years. Whether displayed alongside Halloween, The Thing, Escape from New York, Prince of Darkness or They Live, these collectible VHS editions pay tribute not only to one of Carpenter’s greatest films but also to the golden age of home video collecting itself.
For collectors of boutique horror releases, nostalgic VHS memorabilia and classic Carpenter cinema, Vice Press’s new editions of The Fog look destined to disappear quickly into the mist.
