The Crazies remake of a 1973 George A. Romero movie of the same title. The director Breck Eisner collaborated with Romero on the project and it shows. It has the touch and fun spirit of a Romero movie but has the essence of a modern horror flick to add those needed adjustments that send the movie from politically fueled mediocre movie to fun for all while still retaining the originals message.
The Crazies takes place in a rural Iowa town of a little bit north of 1,000 people. Things get about as exciting as the start of the local high schools baseball season. This is where we meet our first crazy. The town ex-drunk shows up with a shotgun and a bad attitude. From there everything unravels as we follow several different crazies as they over taken with the sudden urge to kill, maim, and cause over all discomfort to anyone they can find. After you can get all of the uneasy rural family killing you can handle the plot boils down into the main characters fight to get out of rural Iowa (not because it blows but because of you know all the crazy people walking around). The plot is non-stop but manages to stay coherent without taking itself too seriously. This is especially true for politically commentary in the film. While it's certain there throughout the film it never gets bogged down or bends itself too it.
The movie itself is not missing good clean scares by anyones standards but the strange part is just how clean they are. The movie is strangely low on the whole bloody-gory side. Most movies these days won't even be called horror unless blood splatters at least 70% of the surface area of the area in which the human blood fountain was contained. Or has to one up the next movie with a newer grosser organ being strewn about (still waiting for the pancreas scene).
While gore is by all means is a creative decision it seems strange it's so lacking in a movie with Romero attached to the title. With all of this being said I believe I actually enjoyed the movie more because of it. It doesn't get bogged down in the gory scenes making it just about shock value but instead creates some new "jump" scenes I didn't see coming. Sure you have your closets, barns, and cars but there are some pretty cool "jump" scenes i won't ruin for you here.
The acting is all pretty well done for a movie of this category. An added cookie to Joe Anderson who plays Russel, the town deputy, for his descent into craziness it pops up seemingly out of nowhere but when you go back and think of it here where little acting hints spread through the whole movie. The effects are also all well done save for a helicopter that looks a bit blurry. The music/sound design is pretty predictable for this type of movie. Ominous music before a jump out followed by a loud noise to shock you. While routine it works and doesn't hurt the film.
In conclusion, The Crazies is a very solid remake of a forgotten horror flick from the 1970's. Eisner does a great job of piecing together the fun of a horror movie, the political commentary of the original, and his own creative input. It is a solid recommendation to just about anyone. The average movie go for it being an over all fun ride. To the zombie fanatic as a solid entry into the genre and if only just to see how well he pulls it off with so little gore.
Go see it folks!
The Crazies takes place in a rural Iowa town of a little bit north of 1,000 people. Things get about as exciting as the start of the local high schools baseball season. This is where we meet our first crazy. The town ex-drunk shows up with a shotgun and a bad attitude. From there everything unravels as we follow several different crazies as they over taken with the sudden urge to kill, maim, and cause over all discomfort to anyone they can find. After you can get all of the uneasy rural family killing you can handle the plot boils down into the main characters fight to get out of rural Iowa (not because it blows but because of you know all the crazy people walking around). The plot is non-stop but manages to stay coherent without taking itself too seriously. This is especially true for politically commentary in the film. While it's certain there throughout the film it never gets bogged down or bends itself too it.
The movie itself is not missing good clean scares by anyones standards but the strange part is just how clean they are. The movie is strangely low on the whole bloody-gory side. Most movies these days won't even be called horror unless blood splatters at least 70% of the surface area of the area in which the human blood fountain was contained. Or has to one up the next movie with a newer grosser organ being strewn about (still waiting for the pancreas scene).
While gore is by all means is a creative decision it seems strange it's so lacking in a movie with Romero attached to the title. With all of this being said I believe I actually enjoyed the movie more because of it. It doesn't get bogged down in the gory scenes making it just about shock value but instead creates some new "jump" scenes I didn't see coming. Sure you have your closets, barns, and cars but there are some pretty cool "jump" scenes i won't ruin for you here.
The acting is all pretty well done for a movie of this category. An added cookie to Joe Anderson who plays Russel, the town deputy, for his descent into craziness it pops up seemingly out of nowhere but when you go back and think of it here where little acting hints spread through the whole movie. The effects are also all well done save for a helicopter that looks a bit blurry. The music/sound design is pretty predictable for this type of movie. Ominous music before a jump out followed by a loud noise to shock you. While routine it works and doesn't hurt the film.
In conclusion, The Crazies is a very solid remake of a forgotten horror flick from the 1970's. Eisner does a great job of piecing together the fun of a horror movie, the political commentary of the original, and his own creative input. It is a solid recommendation to just about anyone. The average movie go for it being an over all fun ride. To the zombie fanatic as a solid entry into the genre and if only just to see how well he pulls it off with so little gore.
Go see it folks!