History Main / OminousFog

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Results in a ShipTease with holding hands.
* ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'': In an early episode, clouds of ominous fog cover an oceanic area where ships are vanishing. At the beginning of the episode, a character tells he does not like that eerie fog and it is creeping him out, and another character scoffs that are silly superstitions and [[TemptingFate there is nothing to be frightened of]]... right before they disappear.

* ''Anime/DenNohCoil'' has fog appear when obsolete space is present. It's not visible without glasses though.
* In ''Manga/{{Gyo}}'', the setting is shrouded in a reeking fog made up of the Death Stench by the time the protagonist wakes up [[spoiler:after being nearly eaten alive by small fish]].

* ''Film/KingKong'': In all three versions of the story, the approach to Skull Island is shrouded in fog.
** ''Film/KongSkullIsland'' also features this, as well as fog hiding the Crawler nest
* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': One of the features of the Aztec curse seems to be a perpetual fog that follows the ''Black Pearl'' around.
%%* Most UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper films.

%%* ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' and its inspiration ''Film/ZeroHour''
* ''Film/TheMist'', [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin obviously]], being a massive cloud of fog filled with a variety of extradimensional horrors.
%% * ''Film/TheWolfman2010''

* ''Film/TheFog'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin plays this straight.]]

* For Satan's temptation of Jesus in ''Film/TheGospelAccordingToStMatthew'', the appropriate tone is set when Jesus encounters Satan on a fog-bound hilltop.
* ''Film/{{Great Expectations|1946}}'': Spooky fog helps set a foreboding mood for Pip's first encounter with Magwitch the escaped convict in the graveyard, and his second encounter, when he brings the food and the file that Magwitch told him to get.
* In ''Film/{{Insomnia}}'', the first chase leads the protagonist, the police, and the murderer into an unexpected fog field. The poor sight leads to an AccidentalMurder (or implied UnfriendlyFire in the remake).
* Fog seems to be a constant presence around the castle in ''Film/Frankenstein1970''. The film opens with Caroline being chased through the fog; Morgan says they are going to need to rethink some of the outdoor shots as he cannot film through the fog; and when Row and Rabb desperately race back to the castle, they are driving through fog.

* ''Literature/TheBoneMaker'': One perpetually misty mountain valley is so infested with deadly monsters that the locals assume anybody who enters the mists is as good as gone. The heroes {{exploit|edTrope}} this to cover their tracks, but have some very near misses there themselves.

* In ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'', the witches chant, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air." (Also, the witches live on a moor, and Scottish moors are prone to fog.)

* Generously {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Theatre/The39Steps''. The Heavies are hunting protagonist [[ActionSurvivor Richard Hannay]] and his [[ChainedHeat unwilling sidekick]], [[BelligerentSexualTension Pamela]], across a Scottish moor. One of them comments on the thick fog -- which isn't present, but the line is the cue for fog machines backstage to activate.

* Fog was ridiculously common in early 3D games, even in settings where it didn't make sense because it was a relatively simple way to cover up texture pop-in and draw-distance limitations. It got to the point where videogame reviewers would deduct points from the score for using it because it was considered an overused and lazy workaround. But some games made it work:
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass''. The fog only occurs around the ghost ship.
** ''Franchise/SilentHill'', with fog [[SerendipityWritesThePlot originally added to hide the graphical limitations of the Playstation]], is one of the more obvious examples, and eventually grew to become one of the central parts of the atmosphere; in fact, ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' for PC would ''never'' run on a [=GeForce 4 MX=] card because the fog was so goddamn detailed. It makes the gameplay terrifying, shows that the setting is terrifying, and is also caused by the town's terrifying nature. The review in UK's ''Official [=PlayStation=] Magazine'' actually praised the original ''Silent Hill'' for being a rare example of a ''good'' use of fog.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' introduced the fog atmosphere--it lowered your accuracy in battle. The HM Defog could get rid of it, but with a bit of trial and error, it's possible to find your way through without the move.
** Before fog was a proper game mechanic, it appeared in ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'' in the haunted cemetery Mt. Pyre.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonGO'' features "weather boosts", where real-world weather conditions increase the spawn rate and stats of a given set of types. Fog boosts Dark and Ghost types, in keeping with this trope.
* Sand of ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'', upon seeing one of these, declares: "I suppose this is the 'impending' part of our impending doom."
* In ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', the mountain-based stages are sometimes covered in fog that drastically reduces your party's chance to proceed freely *and* hides enemies from you. You either bring a Thief into the party, get some Torches, or use the Torch staff to solve the problem.
* In VideoGame/Persona4, murders occur when the fog is heaviest. In the latter parts of the game, it never goes away. The game is centered around [[Creator/FriedrichNietzsche finding the truth in the fog]], which means finding the true culprit and bringing them to justice (although if you look deep into the game's philosophy and symbolism, it's a lot more than that). Also, the fog [[spoiler: is used as a symbol of what humanity desires (in the eyes of Izanami)- hope, despair, and emptiness.]]
* Indie PC horror game ''VideoGame/ThePath'' features ominous fog when you approach the lake in the woods.
* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}} 6: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil's'' very plot involves red fog clouding the sun. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Though it doesn't show up on your screen.]]
* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaWarriorWithin''. There's a foggy area filled with many enemies the player must pass through before reaching the final boss.
* In ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', an ominous fog is what caused Boletaria to be overrun with monsters. In-game, harder sections of the dungeons are marked by walls of fog. If you see one in a large passageway, a BossBattle awaits you on the other side.
* The fog sectioning off the game world also applies to its SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''.
* In ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'', there's an ominous dark purple {{advancing wall|OfDoom}} of fog moving throughout level 8-1, which OneHitKill any player characters (and maybe enemies) on impact. The best advice is to run.

* ''VideoGame/EchoNight: Beyond'' featured fog that made the ghosts you were trying to help very ''hostile'', forcing you to try and find ways to avoid or clear it out.

* Drake Lake in ''[[VideoGame/WaveRace Wave Race 64]]''. It does eventually clear up.
* Heavily used throughout beginning zones in ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'', where the coming and going of an unnatural fog is a major element in the plot. A number of more dangerous things in the storyline are accompanied by thickening of the fog as well.
* The mental facility in ''VideoGame/SilenceOfTheSleep'' is located high up and is constantly surrounded by rain and fog, making it impossible to leave safely.

* ''VideoGame/{{Wick}}'' takes place in a forest steeped in fog.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', an icy mist fades in and obscures the screen in the area where you fight Papyrus.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' ''Far Harbor'' has "The Fog", a heavily radioactive fog that rolls over Mount Desert Island. The Fog is dangerous on two accounts: the [[NuclearNasty monsters in it]] and itself. The Fog is often very thick and therefore shrouds the monsters that live in it such anglers (mutant anglerfish), gulpers (very big and very hungry mutant salamanders), fog crawlers (gigantic amphibious shrimp), and hermit crabs (who are so big they use tankers for shells). The Fog itself has a detrimental effect on the mind, driving them insane and turning normal people into the cannibalistic Trappers if they live that long, as well as being chock full of radiation from the Atlantic ocean (which made the monsters in the first place). The Fog is a natural occurrence though as of late is has been growing larger and thicker, blanketing the entire island in it. The People of Far Harbor (post-War Bar Harbor, Maine) believe that the Children of Atom (a cult that worships the atom as a god) has made it worse while the Children see it as a blessing for their faith. Regardless, people are forced to live in rings of fog condensers to save themselves.
* ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry2LookingForLoveInSeveralWrongPlaces'': The dense fog on Nontoonyt Island that appears and dissipates rather rapidly is a smokescreen for Dr. Nonookee's evil schemes.
* Large outdoor portions of ''VideoGame/KentuckyRouteZero'' are set in foggy, poorly-lit areas, both adding to the subtly uncanny atmosphere and shrouding some parts of the scene until the player character gets up close.

* ''VideoGame/BugFables'': The [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Forsaken Lands]] are set in perpetual dense fog produced by the factories of the [[MetropolisLevel Termite Capitol]], and as a result, it's very hard to navigate through them (which serves as in-universe justification for why this level serves as TheMaze). [[spoiler:The [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Giants' Lair]] also has a dark purple fog in the lower levels inhabited by the [[EldritchAbomination Dead Landers]], though the exact source and nature of ''this'' fog [[NothingIsScarier is never made clear]].]]

* ''VideoGame/BugFables'': [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Forsaken Lands]] are set in perpetual dense fog, and as a result, it's very hard to navigate through them (which serves as in-universe justification for why this level serves as TheMaze).

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* ''Film/TheFog'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin plays this straight]].

* Generously {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Theatre/The39Steps''. The [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Heavies]] are hunting protagonist [[ActionSurvivor Richard Hannay]] and his [[ChainedHeat unwilling sidekick]], [[BelligerentSexualTension Pamela]], across a Scottish moor. One of them comments on the thick fog -- which isn't present, but the line is the cue for fog machines backstage to activate.

* ''Anime/DennouCoil'' has fog appear when obsolete space is present. It's not visible without glasses though.

* ''Film/TheMist'', obviously, being a massive cloud of fog filled with a variety of extradimensional horrors.

* ''Film/TheFog'' plays this straight.

Maybe it's the way you feel alone in the fog, even with your companion next to you. Maybe it's how the fog seems to swallow everything and makes noise and sight unfamiliar. Maybe it's the way it curls and sways around you, as if it ''knows'' you are there. Maybe it's the fact that a monster could lurk a few meters from you and you wouldn't know it.

If the [[EmpathicEnvironment environment is empathic]], it should be possible to read your situation from the weather. Anyone with even a whiff of [[GenreSavvy genre-savviness]] knows that dense fog is about as bad a sign as [[AStormIsComing a howling tornado on the horizon]]. Is sometimes accompanied by [[RedSkyTakeWarning a blood red sky]].

* The geography of ''Manga/OnePiece'' gives us the Florian Triangle, an area of ocean covered in Ominous Fog where the number of ships which have vanished is well in the hundreds if not higher. Within it is the ''Thriller Bark'', the gargantuan ship Gecko Moria uses as his base. The trope is slightly inverted in that the fog is actually ''protecting'' the victims of Moria, who cannot be exposed to sunlight after he steals their shadows. It's played straight at the end of the arc, [[http://www.onemanga.com/One_Piece/490/03/ which implies]] that there is indeed ''something'' within the fog besides the ''Thriller Bark'' that attacks ships.

* ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'': In an early episode, clouds of ominous fog cover an oceanic area where ships are vanishing. At the beginning of the episode a character tells he does not like that eerie fog and it is creeping him out, and another character scoffs that are silly superstitions and [[TemptingFate there is nothing to be frightened of]]... right before they disappear.

* In ''Film/{{Insomnia}}'', the first chase leads the protagonist, the police and the murderer into an unexpected fog field. The poor sight leads to an AccidentalMurder (or implied UnfriendlyFire in the remake).

* ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind''. After suffering hunger and cold during the Reconstruction, Scarlett has a recurring dream of running through a mist. The dream comes true after Melanie's death, when Scarlett runs home to her mansion in the hopes of reconciling with Rhett. Rhett winds up leaving her. Ominous, indeed.

* Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/TheMist''. Even when the monsters are not attacking, the ever-present fog strongly emphasizes the isolation of the survivors, and the alien nature of the world outside.

* The ''[[Franchise/FridayThe13th Tales From Camp Crystal Lake]]'' series of books by Eric Morse [[note]]Mother's Day, Jason's Curse, The Carnival, and Road Trip[[/note]] all feature a yellow fog which seems to make everyone feel more negatively, lubricating the lethal intentions of whomever finds the [[BecomingTheMask hockey mask]] as well as the FinalGirl.

** ''Series/UltramanOrb'' gives this as the signature ability of the ''Series/UltramanEighty'' monster [[TheHeartless Hoe]]. In his appearance in the series, Hoe is able to produce fog to shroud its presence, bringing a sense of dreary despair to the characters who fear Orb will be be defeated by the monster.

** This hasn't shown up recently; it's unclear whether its been dropped or if Damon just hasn't felt the need for a while.

* Besides the darkness and the awesome creepy music, Wrestling/TheUndertaker, in Deadman form, also has a good deal of fog covering the entrance way as part of his terror-inducing entrance.

* Generously {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Theatre/The39Steps''. The [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Heavies]] are hunting protagonist [[ActionSurvivor Richard Hannay]] and his [[ChainedHeat unwilling sidekick]], [[BelligerentSexualTension Pamela]], across a Scottish moor. One of them comments on the thick fog-- which isn't present, but the line is the cue for fog machines backstage to activate.

* Fog was ridiculously common in early 3D games, even in settings where it didn't make sense, because it was a relatively simple way to cover up texture pop-in and draw-distance limitations. It got to the point where videogame reviewers would deduct points from the score for using it, because it was considered an overused and lazy workaround. But some games made it work:

** ''Franchise/SilentHill'', with fog [[SerendipityWritesThePlot originally added to hide the graphical limitations of the Playstation]], is one of the more obvious examples, and eventually grew to become one of the central parts of the atmosphere; in fact, ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' for PC would ''never'' run on a [=GeForce 4 MX=] card, because the fog was so goddamn detailed. It makes the gameplay terrifying, shows that the setting is terrifying, and is also caused by the town's terrifying nature. The review in UK's ''Official [=PlayStation=] Magazine'' actually praised the original ''Silent Hill'' for being a rare example of a ''good'' use of fog.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' introduced the fog atmosphere--it lowered your accuracy in battle. The HM Defog could get rid of it, but with a bit of trial and error it's possible to find your way through without the move.

* In VideoGame/Persona4, murders occur when the fog is heaviest. In the latter parts of the game, it never goes away. The game is centered around [[Creator/FriedrichNietzsche finding the truth in the fog]], which means finding the true culprit and bringing them to justice (although if you look deep into the game's philosophy and symbolism, it's a lot more than that). Also, the fog [[spoiler: is used as a symbol of what humanity desires (in the eyes of Izanami)- hope, despair and emptiness.]]

* In ''VideoGame/AlanWake'', you spend most of the game running through (natural) fog shrouded forests. Every so often, the wind will pick up and the fog turns pitch black. From a story perspective, it indicates [[BigBad the Dark Presence]] is nearby, while from a gameplay perspective it indicates that you're about to be swamped by [[TheHeartless the Taken]]. Both are effective at escalating the tension.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' ''Far Harbor'' has "The Fog", a heavily radioactive fog that rolls over Mount Desert Island. The Fog is dangerous on two accounts: the [[NuclearNasty monsters in it]] and itself. The Fog is often very thick and therefore shrouds the monsters that live in it such anglers (mutant anglerfish), gulpers (very big and very hungry mutant salamanders), fog crawlers (gigantic amphibious shrimp), and hermit crabs (who are so big they use tankers for shells). The Fog itself has a detrimental affect on the mind, driving them insane and turning normal people into the cannibalistic Trappers if they live that long, as well as being chock full of radiation from the Atlantic ocean (which made the monsters in the first place). The Fog is a natural occurrence though as of late is has been growing larger and thicker, blanketing the entire island in it. The People of Far Harbor (post-War Bar Harbor, Maine) believe that the Children of Atom (a cult that worships the atom as a god) has made it worse while the Children see it as a blessing for their faith. Regardless, people are forced to live in rings of fog condensers to save themselves.

* Wrestling/{{D|affneyUnger}}raculetta was accompanied by it in Wrestling/{{Wrestlicious}}, although it was [[ConspicuousCG CG effect]] rather than something physically there for the live audience.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' ''Far Harbor'' has "The Fog", a heavily radioactive fog that rolls over Mount Desert Island. The Fog is dangerous on two accounts: the [[NuclearNasty monsters in it]] and itself. The Fog is often very thick and therefore shrouds the monsters that live in it such anglers (mutant anglerfish), gulpers (very big and very hungry mutant salamanders), and fog crawlers (gigantic amphibious shrimp). The Fog itself has a detrimental affect on the mind, driving them insane and turning normal people into the cannibalistic Trappers if they live that long, as well as being chock full of radiation from the Atlantic ocean (which made the monsters in the first place). The Fog is a natural occurrence though as of late is has been growing larger and thicker, blanketing the entire island in it. The People of Far Harbor (post-War Bar Harbor, Maine) believe that the Children of Atom (a cult that worships the atom as a god) has made it worse while the Children see it as a blessing for their faith. Regardless, people are forced to live in rings of fog condensers to save themselves.

* ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'':

Fog was ridiculously common in early 3D games, even in settings where it didn't make sense, because it was a relatively simple way to cover up texture pop-in and draw-distance limitations. It got to the point where videogame reviewers would deduct points from the score for using it, because it was considered an overused and lazy workaround. But some games made it work.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass''. The fog only occurs around the ghost ship.
* ''Franchise/SilentHill'', with fog [[SerendipityWritesThePlot originally added to hide the graphical limitations of the Playstation]], is one of the more obvious examples, and eventually grew to become one of the central parts of the atmosphere; in fact, ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' for PC would ''never'' run on a [=GeForce 4 MX=] card, because the fog was so goddamn detailed. It makes the gameplay terrifying, shows that the setting is terrifying, and is also caused by the town's terrifying nature.
** The review in UK's ''Official [=PlayStation=] Magazine'' actually praised the original ''Silent Hill'' for being a rare example of a ''good'' use of fog.

* The ''Literature/TalesFromCampCrystalLake'' series of books by Eric Morse [[note]]Mother's Day, Jason's Curse, The Carnival, and Road Trip[[/note]] all feature a yellow fog which seems to make everyone feel more negatively, lubricating the lethal intentions of whomever finds the [[BecomingTheMask hockey mask]] as well as the FinalGirl.

* Many in Wrestling/ProWrestlingNOAH, most obviously company founder Wrestling/MitsuharuMisawa. Wrestling/SamoaJoe's entrance wasn't just preceded by ominous fog to an even more ominous remix of his Wrestling/{{TNA}} theme, which is appropriate since he's basically a Misawa {{expy}}.

* Upon his Wrestling/WWESmackdown debut, Wrestling/{{Boogeyman}} was accompanied by fog that wasn't just ominous, [[EvilSmellsBad but odorous]].

[[folder:Folk Lore]]

* ''Literature/AWizardOfEarthsea''. Duny (who later becomes Sparrowhawk) uses a fog control/illusion spell to confuse invaders and save his village.
* Brandon Sanderson's ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'' trilogy features metal-burning magic-users who [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin have a certain affinity with the concealing mists that form from nowhere at nightfall]], which commoners fear. [[spoiler: When the all-powerful, immortal Lord Ruler is assassinated, the mists begin to emerge during the day, last for weeks, form ghosts, and kill people. Though that was to "snap" the skaa peasants and awaken their magic powers so they could fight in the final battle.]]
* Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/TheMist''. Even when the monsters are not attacking, the ever-present fog strongly emphasizes the isolation of the survivors, and the alien nature of the world outside.

* In the ''Literature/OldKingdom'' trilogy, fog can be a cover for Dead, for whom light is dangerous.

* In Creator/RobertEHoward's Literature/ConanTheBarbarian novel ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon'', Valerius curses the fog until he realizes it would hide his advance.
* In ch. XI of ''CloudsOfWitness'' by Dorothy L. Sayers, Lord Peter Wimsey and his man Bunter interview a not very helpful witness who lives in a hut on the moors and then “like two Cockney innocents, Lord Peter and Bunter set forth at a brisk pace down the narrow moor-track toward Grider’s Hole, with never a glance behind them for the great white menace rolling silently down through the November dusk from the wide loneliness of Whemmeling Fell.” They wander around sightless for some hours, completely unaware that not far away, invisible in the fog, is a large and often fatal bog of quicksand. Until...

* ''Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde'': the fog is symbolic of the mystery of Hyde, and sets up the dark and ominous atmosphere of London, especially the immoral slum of Soho.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/TheXFiles''. In "The Ghosts Who Stole Christmas" Scully wryly notes the presence of ominous fog outside a creepy old house and (correctly) guesses that it must be haunted.

* ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'': A sure sign Damon's near.
** This hasn't shown up recently; it's unclear whether its been dropped or if Damon just hasn't felt the need for a while.

[[folder:Theater]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Derelict}}'' [[http://derelictcomic.com/?strip_id=12 Engulfing her boat]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Roza}}'' [[http://www.junglestudio.com/roza/?date=2008-01-28 Whilet chasing a thief]]
* ''Webcomic/ThistilMistilKistil'': [[http://tmkcomic.depleti.com/comic/ch04-pg01-02/ a misty fjord]]

* ''Literature/JekyllAndHyde: the fog is symbolic of the mystery of Hyde, and sets up the dark and ominous atmosphere of London, especially the immoral slum of Soho.

* Generously {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Theater/TheThirtyNineSteps''. The [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Heavies]] are hunting protagonist [[ActionSurvivor Richard Hannay]] and his [[ChainedHeat unwilling sidekick]], [[BelligerentSexualTension Pamela]], across a Scottish moor. One of them comments on the thick fog-- which isn't present, but the line is the cue for fog machines backstage to activate.

* Fog also appears when the BigDamnHeroes reach the center of Shinjuku in ''Anime/DemonCityShinjuku''.

* In ''FireEmblem'', the mountain-based stages are sometimes covered in fog that drastically reduces your party's chance to proceed freely *and* hides enemies from you. You either bring a Thief into the party, get some Torches, or use the Torch staff to solve the problem.