Review: THE CRAZIES

Serving as no big surprise for avid fans of the horror genre, Breck Eisner’s new film THE CRAZIES is actually a remake of the 1973 horror film by legendary filmmaker George Romero. No, despite the obvious, THE CRAZIES is NOT a zombie flick. Why? Simply put, nobody returns from the dead… therefore, no zombies! Romero’s original was, with all due respect, one of a short list of films not about or containing zombies.

Breck Eisner last made SAHARA (2005) was… tolerable. However, his remake of THE CRAZIES appears to be the beginning of a new trend for him, as he’s already attached to future remakes of FLASH GORDON and David Cronenberg’s THE BROOD. I have to admit, after seeing THE CRAZIES, I’m not so sure this is such a bad thing.

Eisner has somehow managed to capture the perfect combination of fun and fright, that wonderful concoction of cinematic chemistry that made the genre films of the late 70’s and early 80’s such cult classics to this day. That’s not to say this film is perfect, but it does go a long way with fans of the genre and will likely please general audiences as well.

Right from the beginning, Eisner sets up the mood of THE CRAZIES with a shot of small town American in flaming ruins, followed by an immediate rewind back to the day it all started. Johnny Cash serenades us as we meet the small Iowa farm town of Ogden Marsh. Everything appears normal, until one of the townsfolk interrupts a high school baseball game, resulting in a tragic event that causes panic in the rural community.

Things rapidly grow out of control as more and more of these bizarre occurrences happen. Sheriff David Dutton, played by Timothy Olyphant (DEADWOOD, HITMAN), doesn’t waste much time putting the pieces together and works to put a stop to the spreading chaos, but finds he is too little too late as the town becomes quarantined by aggressive military personnel.

Coincidentally, the soldiers ordered to shoot with extreme prejudice are the least of Sheriff Dutton’s worries, as he struggles to protect his pregnant wife Judy (Radha Mitchell) from a town full of infected, psychotic killing machines. Olyphant is great. While he does tend to be cast in similarly typecast roles, he always brings a certain flair and intensity to his performances that make him exhilarating to watch. His touch for intensity adds to the decently suspenseful nature of THE CRAZIES.

Equally notable as a positive influence on THE CRAZY is Deputy Russell Clank, played by Joe Anderson (THE RUINS, AMELIA). At once the slightly Barney Fife[ish] sidekick and loyal partner, he also serves as a thrilling side story that gradually transforms into an obstacle for the main character.

Filled with moments of startling jumps and scares, THE CRAZIES melds the darker comedic element of a good horror flick with solid dialog appropriate for the story without feeling absurd or over-the-top. The special effects are respectfully kept within the bounds of realism, effective and creepy but not overdone.

Granted, THE CRAZIES lacks a few key elements of opportunity, such as original, creative storytelling or much character development at all. Despite the frequent conveniences and little predictabilities in the story’s progression, the movie still manages to satisfy on the more primal levels. It’s an admirably accomplished good time and a film worth the box office price tag.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars