Review: The Crazies

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The Crazies still photo

Based on the 1973 George Romero movie by the same name, the 2010 version of The Crazies, adapted by screenwriters Ray Wright and Scott Kosar, strips away the social and political aspects that were rampant in the original. Nowadays moviegoers don't need much convincing to believe that the military could seize a town and cover up bioweapons. Director Breck Eisner seems to pride himself on using as little exposition as possible to keep the plot cruising along. The result is a rollercoaster ride, as building tensions keep viewers on the edge of their seats and then out of them when the insanity and horror takes over.

The basic plot of The Crazies remains: Residents of the small Iowan town of Ogden Marsh are suddenly plagued by insanity and death after their water supply is contaminated. When the town drunk Rory Hamill (Mike Hickman) shows up to a high school baseball game with a rifle, he's shot dead by local sheriff David Dutton (Tim Olyphant) when he fails to respond and drop his weapon. It's assumed that Rory was heavily intoxicated -- only he's been on the wagon for two years and his blood alcohol content confirms it. While Sheriff Dutton along with Deputy Russell Clark (Joe Anderson) tries to find an explanation for Rory's strange behavior and also investigate reports of a plane crash in the local creek, his wife Dr. Judy Dutton (Radha Mitchell) attempts unsuccessfully to identify what's wrong with another resident. The man is almost catatonic, and later that night he sets fire to his house after locking his wife and son in a closet.

Sheriff Dutton and his deputy determine that there's definitely a connection between the plane crash and the townsfolks' psychopathic behavior with the link being the town's water supply. He attempts to protect the town but the mayor refuses to shut off the water. Before he can take further action, all the communication in the town is cut off and the vehicles are booted. That's when the military arrives and locks down the town, and the chance of survival becomes a bleak prospect for the healthy as well as the infected.

What really stands out about The Crazies is the cast, especially considering that lead actor Tim Olyphant (Go, Scream 2) is the biggest name thanks to the success of Deadwood. Most of the supporting actors have spent more time involved in television acting than movies, but their acting is top-notch, especially Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black, Finding Neverland), Joe Anderson (Across the Universe, The Ruins), and Danielle Panabaker as Becca Darling, Dr. Mitchell's young office assistant.

During a Q&A after a special screening in Austin on Thursday, director Eisner credited Tim Olyphant with the success of the ensemble cast. Olyphant was typically the first on the call sheet everyday. Eisner reported that after shooting his scenes Olyphant would stay and help out the other actors, which helped set the tone. Joe Anderson effectively plays the deputy who knows his place, and that his sole responsibility is to do what the sheriff says. Eisner also added a few surprises in the film including a cameo from Lynn Lowry, who was in the 1973 version of The Crazies.

The composition of The Crazies is well worth mentioning, and outstanding throughout the film. My favorite scene involves a medium shot that reveals both a fight scene in a repair bay below a big rig and simultaneous action in the cab.

I must say that I disagree with criticism that The Crazies doesn't have enough crazies. Three hunters who take hunting out of season to an unspeakable level is crazy enough for me, and there was enough gore that I covered my eyes more than I can count. Eisner along with screenwriters Wright and Kosar have effectively created a horror film that brings out both primal urges and fears -- for the infected, a boiling rage that surfaces in actions against loved ones and neighbors. For the healthy, the fear is that at any moment a spouse, parent, or friends could become a psychotic murderer. The filmmakers of The Crazies created a remake that successfully exceeds the original movie. I highly recommend this film to horror fans.

Austin Connection: Musician Willie Nelson is featured in the closing credits ("Bring Me Sunshine").