The Crazies [2010]

This remake of a George A. Romero flick The Crazies 1973 is something that shows that Hollywood and the movie studios are running out of ideas. The script could held water in 1973 but in 2010 it just seems stupid and presumptuous. I just had to write that, although I know that this is a remake and that we shouldn’t question the original story. And the movie title reminds me of the Tremors monster Graboid, we are all Texas here. And here we go again with the same subject of lost army virus that infected an isolated village turning people into crazed killers. And of course the military response is quick containment, so the inhabitants are put into a quarantine. But a loving couple will try to break free (queue the I Want To Break Free theme song).

The acting is okay, and of course from a big production like this you can expect top notch special effects. So this is not a masterpiece but it’s definitely worth a viewing, if they just used a bit of humor the whole thing could have been much easier, but what can you do. Another direction is actually in the title and since Romero was the executive producer of this version it wouldn’t be strange to make the crazies really crazy. That way, the movie gets a bit more dynamic and unpredictable atmosphere and with enough creativity when it comes to the crazies, a better movie overall.

Director: Breck Eisner

Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson, Danielle Panabaker, Christie Lynn Smith

Fun Stuff: Uses the Magical Negro, a supporting, sometimes mystical stock character in fiction who, by use of special insight or powers, helps the white protagonist get out of trouble.

Rating:

IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455407/