I always do my best to go into a film with an open mind and leave most preconceived baggage out of the experience, but The Crazies had so much that had me sharpening my knives to eviscerate it. Directed by a nepotism flyweight, who's daddy used to run Disney and directed one of the biggest flops of the decade - a remake of a less than stellar George Romero film - a title that just sounds silly on a slick studio production and sounds designed for cheap exploitation - a cast capable of good work, but with careers of varying quality control. So it was a complete surprise that The Crazies is a damn fine horror film. It's well directed, acted and has a mounting sense of dread, as well as some humor. There's no fat on this film and the mayhem begins from the first scene. The surveillance effects during the first 15 minutes or so are unnecessary and a crazed man terrorizing his family before setting the house on fire, has plenty of familiar horror tropes that you've seen a thousand times - but those are minor complaints. Most of what unfolds plays out well, even with a few bumps along the way - a visit back to our two leads home where a hostage situation takes place should have been cut. There are some great set pieces, especially one involving some serious misuse of a pitchfork. The Crazies delivers the goods.
Review of The Crazies
