FILM REVIEW: The Crazies

Posted by: anthony – Mar 01, 2010

It’s not often that a film like The Crazies comes along. Though touted as a remake, this is a far different feature from its predecessor. While I was prepared to lament the lack of social commentary in the modern version, the differences between the current film and the original are great enough to make such discussion completely irrelevant. The movie playing in theaters across the globe this weekend is something new and original, and while it may share the same premise, it has little else in common with George Romero’s lost gem. I was one of the fortunate few who have actually located and watched a copy of the original, and while I agree that it ranks among Romero’s best, the 2010 model doesn’t suffer by comparison.

The Crazies takes place in a small town called Ogden Marsh, which seems like a swell place to live for the first minute or so of the film. That’s when people start flipping out and committing unspeakable acts of violence, forcing the citizens of this country setting to fend for themselves. Who is behind this epidemic of terror? Why are the citizens of this quaint locale forced to suffer in such fashion? Suffice it to say that Big Brother is watching, and once the government goons in hazmat suits show up to clean up the mess, things don’t get any easier for the doomed populace of Ogden Marsh.

This is a movie that starts with a bang and never lets up. I have heard people say that of a number of films, most of which started with a bang and quickly trailed off. That isn’t the case here. The film is composed of one epic set piece after another, any one of which would have stood out in most films. The violence is incredible, though the direction is rather subdued. I found that combination surprisingly potent, and somehow Breck Eisner’s attention to detail only enhanced the thrill ride nature of the picture. As it stands, I don’t know if I could choose a favorite scene. Was it the mortuary battle concluding with the saw gone mad? Was it the car wash from hell? Was it the grisly standoff with the lunatic hunters who will not die? It’s hard to say.

Timothy Olyphant is quickly becoming a personal favorite, and his role here as Sheriff David Dutton ranks among his best performances. Tough and believable, he has a true leading man persona, a legitimacy that makes his characters particularly endearing. He’s not some Hollywood pretty boy who is capable of the occasional game performance, he’s a man first and a thespian second. Anyone who enjoys Clint Eastwood or George Clooney understands why that’s an asset. Some cats can’t play parts like this, no matter how believable they look in the costume, while people like Olyphant were born for such roles. He is matched by the criminally underappreciated Radha Mitchell, an Austrailian actress horror fans know and love from her work in Pitch Black and Rogue. She is at the top of her game in The Crazies, playing Sheriff Dutton’s wife, Judy, a character who is given much more to do than the female lead in similar features. Neither of these players falter at any stage of the game, and since they represent the core of the piece, it makes for a splendid viewing experience. Of course, it’s hard to deny relative newcomer Joe Anderson‘s power in the role of Deputy Russell Clank, and I will definitely be on the lookout for future rolls showcasing this dynamic performer.

Horror is my favorite genre, and zombie pictures in particular sit at the top of my list. I will gladly rank The Crazies among the very best. I am prepared to say that it is as good as any Romero film aside from Dawn of the Dead, and it is certainly as well-crafted as my personal favorite, Return of the Living Dead. In all honesty, I am tempted to rate it higher, because it was definitely more believable than either of those films, and it didn’t lose any impact by virtue of remaining plausible. There is a moment at the end that stretches the bounds of credibility, and the ending itself left me with a few questions, but it was still quite satisfying. This is a hell of a ride from start to finish, and it should not be missed.

Oh, and don’t drink the water.

By James Wayland

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