The Crazies (2010) - Film Review

I’ll answer the burning question straight off the bat: Is Breck Eisner’s remake of the George A. Romero 1973 Classic, THE CRAZIES just another pointless remake? I’m happy to say not. One of the better horror remakes of recent years, THE CRAZIES adds something to the original rather than taking away. A treat of Mystery, Horror, Tension, and violence, THE CRAZIES has all of the ingredients for a good horror flick. Add in the obligatory jump-scares and it’s enough to take you from the comfort of your sofa to the town of Ogden Marsh, to witness for yourself the horror that lies within.

When the residents of Ogden Marsh start to behave strangely it is up to Sherriff David Dutten (Timothy Olyphant) to discover the reason. In a bid to save all of his friends and neighbours from turning into psycho killers he sets off to find the truth. A contaminated water
supply provides his answer, and as more and more of the townsfolk start to lose the plot he realises that the situation is more terrifying than he could have ever imagined. His beautiful wife, Judy (Radha Mitchell) and faithful Deputy, Russell Clank (Joe Anderson) are soon in the know and a fight for survival is on. The trio encounter unimaginable horror as they see their town and its inhabitants torn apart, in their race to get out alive!

The Crazies builds the tension well and dishes up enough violence and horror to keep even the most hardened horror fan happy. There are the usual quick visuals accompanied by loud noises or shocking musical chords which will ensure a few good jumps, but the tension is also palpable and it is a rare treat to see a nice mix of the two.

Well made and more than adequately acted, The Crazies is an unexpected surprise. It offers the right balance of suspense and horror with plenty of action too. The film moves smoothly from scene to scene and the camera work and lighting cannot be faulted. The characters are a little weak but very likable, and don’t spend the whole film fumbling with keys and falling over. With the help of gifted actors who inject the much needed depth, they carry the film well.

I would like to see more money in Hollywood spent on new and original ideas but that’s not to say we should dismiss any remake as old hat. The Crazies proves this point better than most. Yes, we’ve seen it all before but with obvious talent on both sides of the camera, The Crazies shouldn’t be overlooked ’cos it’s a good film in its own right.

THE CRAZIES (2010) Director: Breck Eisner, Writers: Scott Kosar, Ray Wright (Screenplay) George A. Romero (1973 Motion Picture, The Crazies), Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson, Danielle Panabaker, Christie Lynn Smith, Brett Rickaby.

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