The Crazies (C- or 1.5/4 stars)
'The Crazies' (directed by Breck Eisner), based on the 1973 George A. Romero film, tells another apocalyptic tale. You know the type, zombies are running rampant, government cover-ups are afoot, etc.. I'll have to echo some of the professional reviews and say that while the film is decently acted, well-crafted, & offers some jolts, it's a cliched story that's been told hundreds of times before (better, worse, & same in quality). The film opens on a spring day in the quiet town of Ogden Marsh, Iowa. The police station is closed so that Sheriff, David Durron (Timothy Olyphant), & his deputy, Russell (Joe Anderson), can watch a local baseball game. One of the few locals not in attendance of said game would be David's wife, Judy (Radha Mitchell), the local doctor. Judy is busy, but she's nice enough it let her assistant, Becca (Danielle Panabaker), leave early - her boyfriend is star pitcher for the team.
Things get bad, though, when a 'crazed' local man wanders onto the outfield with a gun. When he points it at David, he has no choice but to shoot him. But while this seems like an isolated incident, it is actually only the beginning of a living nightmare. You see, a mysterious toxin has contaminated the town's water; turning normal folk into mindless, zombie-like psychopaths. With time, the military arrives to quarantine the town but, by then, this 'crazy' epidemic has spun out of control. Now, the group of 4 'survivors' - David, Judy, Russell, & Becca - must band together & face peril after peril; not only from the zombie-like townsfolk, but from gun-toting soldiers ... and it seems as if one of the 4 is already infected. What is this infection? How did it start? Who started it? And how can it be contained?
So this is one of those 'the world will end unless a savior kills the zombies' type of films; part zombie, part paranoia/bio-terror, part military conspiracy drama. Think something akin to 28 Days Later, but not nearly as good. That said, this is hardly a poor movie. Its inessential (even in horror terms), but it acquits itself well. The movie is fleet, at 94 min. It's straightforward; no frills. There's a modicum of suspense (at times). The make-up/gore is suitably gross. The plot makes it easy to root for the protagonists. Timothy Olyphant plays his first protagonist, I think ... ever. He put aside his 'a-hole' demeanor & gave us a character to sympathize with for once. Radha Mitchell is fine; as are the other supporting actors - who must stalk, run, & scream. And the last 30 min., while dipping into the sort of lame-brained, implausible nonsense (separating from the pack in dark places is never a smart move) that most films of this ilk go to ... ends the film on a satisfactory note.
Throughout the course of the film, there are quite a few 'boo' moments & jolts; where my heart skipped a beat (like a certain car wash scene). That's more that can be said for other recent horror flicks. I damn this film, though, with faint praise because it really offers nothing new to the zombie genre. There are almost no surprises. The 'Crazies', themselves, aren't as scary or interesting as they really could be. I would have liked a military point-of-view; given it's weightiness in the plot. And though the atmosphere of the film feels correct, I got little-to-no sense of dread. You know, 'scary-ass end of the world dread'. Again, I don't think this is a bad movie. Though, it's predictable, it's better than most horror fare that gets released. I'm just over this genre. Until someone makes a TRULY original, horrifying zombie flick, I think I'll sit 'em out. I've already forgotten this one.
Things get bad, though, when a 'crazed' local man wanders onto the outfield with a gun. When he points it at David, he has no choice but to shoot him. But while this seems like an isolated incident, it is actually only the beginning of a living nightmare. You see, a mysterious toxin has contaminated the town's water; turning normal folk into mindless, zombie-like psychopaths. With time, the military arrives to quarantine the town but, by then, this 'crazy' epidemic has spun out of control. Now, the group of 4 'survivors' - David, Judy, Russell, & Becca - must band together & face peril after peril; not only from the zombie-like townsfolk, but from gun-toting soldiers ... and it seems as if one of the 4 is already infected. What is this infection? How did it start? Who started it? And how can it be contained?
So this is one of those 'the world will end unless a savior kills the zombies' type of films; part zombie, part paranoia/bio-terror, part military conspiracy drama. Think something akin to 28 Days Later, but not nearly as good. That said, this is hardly a poor movie. Its inessential (even in horror terms), but it acquits itself well. The movie is fleet, at 94 min. It's straightforward; no frills. There's a modicum of suspense (at times). The make-up/gore is suitably gross. The plot makes it easy to root for the protagonists. Timothy Olyphant plays his first protagonist, I think ... ever. He put aside his 'a-hole' demeanor & gave us a character to sympathize with for once. Radha Mitchell is fine; as are the other supporting actors - who must stalk, run, & scream. And the last 30 min., while dipping into the sort of lame-brained, implausible nonsense (separating from the pack in dark places is never a smart move) that most films of this ilk go to ... ends the film on a satisfactory note.
Throughout the course of the film, there are quite a few 'boo' moments & jolts; where my heart skipped a beat (like a certain car wash scene). That's more that can be said for other recent horror flicks. I damn this film, though, with faint praise because it really offers nothing new to the zombie genre. There are almost no surprises. The 'Crazies', themselves, aren't as scary or interesting as they really could be. I would have liked a military point-of-view; given it's weightiness in the plot. And though the atmosphere of the film feels correct, I got little-to-no sense of dread. You know, 'scary-ass end of the world dread'. Again, I don't think this is a bad movie. Though, it's predictable, it's better than most horror fare that gets released. I'm just over this genre. Until someone makes a TRULY original, horrifying zombie flick, I think I'll sit 'em out. I've already forgotten this one.