The Crazies, directed by Breck Eisner, is a remake of the 1973 George A. Romera film. Like most movies coming out today, there is nothing new or original about this film. However, for those of us who aren't spontaneous or willing to accept change, this movie offers just that, exactly what you expect. It's the Big Mac in a foreign country when you just can't seem to try their extravagant delicacies.

The film tells the story of a small town in Iowa that is faced with an epidemic because of a secret biological weapon that spilled into the water supply from a crashed airplane. The sheriff of Ogden Marsh, David Dutton played by Timothy Olyphant, quickly discovers that this crash must be linked to the strange occurrences taking place (i.e. a man murdering his family and another man entering a baseball field with a rifle). It is as if people are dying but coming back to life...

However, I will give the movie props on its transformation of the zombies. People affected by the toxic water gradually became under its influence, feeling the toxins mentally before physically. It was later that they began to physically look like our "stereotypical" horror film zombies. You knew that the transformation was coming but at the least director make the effort by making the audience wait for it. The crazies weren't the ordinary coming out of the grave zombies. At the least I will give them that. 

The only character in the film that was not completely stereotypical or predictable (the protagonist sheriff and moral doctor) was the deputy Russell Clank, played by Joe Anderson. His performance of Russell's transformation throughout the film must be noted. You gradually saw throughout the film that Russell was suffering from the toxic water but this was not one of those moments when one of the main characters suddenly becomes the bad guy. In fact, it was the opposite. You saw Russell trying to fight something that he could not control. It showed the sidekick in another light. Throughout the film you saw Russell step out of Sheriff David's shadow and no longer be the stereotypical funnyman right hand man. 

 Again, the film was very foreseeable, offering those moments when you can't help but jump in your seat. There were also numerous scenes with the expected zombie in hte background and the main character has no idea. After a while it was a little played out. I know this is one of the ingredients of a horror film but there is such a thing as something being played out. It made the film seem like it would never end.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that this film wasn't good. It is just what you would expect with today's horror films. Aside from Anderson's performance, this film was just okay. Enjoyable but nothing special. Two stars. 

Shannon Farrell

If interested, click here to read an interview with Joe Anderson on the film and his aspirations of one day making the transition to directing.