After the Fog (1929) is a soggy, dramatic mess that I actually liked

If you're looking for something to watch tonight, After the Fog is really only for the people who don't mind squinting at old, grainy footage. It's a 1929 melodrama that feels like it’s caught between two worlds.

Fans of Mary Philbin will probably dig it because she’s always great at looking worried. If you hate slow-moving plots where people stand around in tuxedos talking about honor, you should probably skip this one. 🚢

The whole thing starts with Joshua Barker, a millionaire who seems way too stressed out. He wants his daughter, Faith, to marry this guy Phil Langhorne.

Phil is just... the worst. He has that kind of face you just want to poke with a stick.

Faith is actually in love with John Temple, who is her childhood sweetheart. John seems nice enough, but he’s a bit of a blank slate compared to the drama happening everywhere else.

The movie really gets going when Faith decides she’s had enough of the mystery. She wants to know why her dad is being such a pushover regarding Phil.

It turns out Phil has some kind of "hold" on him. The movie is pretty vague about it for a long time, which is kind of annoying but keeps you watching I guess.

I found myself wondering if the "hold" was actually interesting or just some boring business debt. It’s usually a boring business debt in these old flicks.

Anyway, Faith ends up heading to this island. It’s a dark and windy night, obviously.

The storm effects are actually kind of charming in a low-budget way. You can see the water splashing against what is clearly a studio set, but it adds to the vibe.

There’s a lighthouse on the island, and the light goes out right when the family yacht is cruising nearby. It's very convenient for the plot.

The scene where the yacht is about to hit the rocks is actually pretty tense. I mean, you know they aren't going to kill off the main lead, but the editing gets really choppy and fast. 🌊

It reminded me a little bit of the tension in Fighting Odds, but with more rain.

One thing that bothered me was how long it took for anyone to notice the lighthouse light was out. Like, isn't that someone's only job?

The acting is very "silent era" even though it’s 1929. Lots of big gestures and wide eyes.

Mary Philbin does this thing with her hands when she's nervous that feels very real. It's a small detail, but I noticed it twice.

I’ve seen better stuff from this era, like The White Black Sheep, which had a bit more meat on its bones. But this isn't terrible.

The guy playing Phil, Edmund Burns, is really good at being a creep. You just want to yell at the screen for Faith to run away faster.

The yacht itself looks quite fancy. I wonder if they actually rented a real one or if it’s just a very good miniature.

There’s a moment where a character stares at a door for about ten seconds too long. I think they were trying to build suspense, but I just thought the film had jammed.

It’s a bit like An American Gentleman in terms of the high-society drama, but with a much better ending.

The resolution of the "blackmail" plot felt a little rushed to me. One minute everyone is screaming, and the next, it’s all sorted out.

I wish we got to see more of the island before the storm hit. It looked like a nice place to have a picnic if people weren't trying to force marriages.

Is it a masterpiece? No.

But it’s a fun way to spend an hour if you like seeing how movies used to handle "thrills" before CGI.

The cinematography in the lighthouse is actually the best part. The shadows are huge and creepy. 🕯️

I noticed a stray hair on the lens during one of the close-ups of the dad. It’s those little things that remind you how human these old movies are.

Overall, it’s a decent watch for a rainy Sunday afternoon. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything.

Some random notes I took:

• The dad’s mustache is impressively symmetrical.
• Why does everyone in 1929 wear so many layers of clothing on a boat?
• The storm sounds (if you find a version with a score) are loud as heck.
• Faith is way braver than John, let's be honest.

It’s definitely better than The Champeen, if you were wondering. That one was a bit of a struggle for me.

Check it out if you find a good print. The blurry ones make the storm scenes impossible to see.