Call us the Crazies, because we’re onto day four of our 31 Days of Halloween Horror!
Today we’re covering…
The Crazies!
Movie Details:
- Release Date: 1973
- “Run”time: 1 hour and 43 minutes
- Where to watch it: Streaming
- Directed by: George A. Romero
- Written by: George A. Romero
- Starring:
- Stars
- Lane Carroll
- Will MacMillan
- Harold Wayne Jones
Synopsis: A virus breaks out in a small town and the residents and government scramble to figure out what to do.
Open Stab Wounds (out of 10): 6
Review: Horror with the theme of a virus spreading has always had an added layer of fear, since the idea is somewhat plausible. If the last three years have shown us anything, it is that if/when a zombie/rage/crazies virus does break out, we’re doomed for sure.
The fourth feature film of writer/director George A. Romero introduces us to the small town of Evans City, Pennsylvania. Opening on a small farm house where a couple of young siblings are up past their bedtime playing in the house. During their play, the father is suddenly seen smashing items in the home and spreading kerosene through the house. Running to their mother for help, they find her murdered in bed and then their father finds them and proceeds to set the house ablaze. This is our initial introduction to the Trixie virus.
We are quickly introduced to the main protagonist of the film, David (Will MacMillan) who is in bed with his pregnant fiancé Judy (Lane Carroll). David is part of the volunteer firefighting squad and is called to respond to the fire set in the introduction. Judy, the local nurse, is also called in to work to attend to the two children rescued from the same fire. Things quickly take a turn though, as the military show up at the doctor’s office and establish that they are putting the whole town under quarantine.
It turns out that six days earlier, a plane had crashed in the mountains overlooking the town. Onboard was a “vaccine” that had spread into the reservoir used by the town which had now spread to most of the residents. Those affected by the contaminated water started to show either severe flu-like symptoms or would seem to lose their mind, going between violence and euphoria, sometimes both at the same time.
The incompetence of the military and government response seem to be a running theme throughout and it quickly devolves into an “us vs them” mentality in the town. On the government side, it almost immediately turns to an “acceptable losses” scenario. With multiple plots being set up, the film sort of just ends with no real conclusion.
I do like much of Romero’s work, but I cannot say this is one of my favorites. The gore is minimal with more of an emphasis on the fear of not knowing what to do (on the civilian, government, and military sides). In true grindhouse fashion, the editing and sound is not very good and the acting is on the same level. The story jumps from point to point with no real transition, which gives a very big sense of forced exposition. Overall, I think the film had some great ideas, but just did not deliver.
Brandon’s Thoughts:
I saw the remake before I ever saw the original. The context of when the film was released originally vs. the remake might be something I discuss in my post tomorrow. All in all, I agree with the Grindhouse/indie aspect of Romero’s work. I like the concept, though it seems a middle of the road kind of movie for me.
Open Stab Wounds (out of 10): 6
Thanks for reading and watching along with us! Be sure to keep up with all 31 days of our Halloween Horror Film coverage!
Oh, and make sure to follow Brandon on Twitter @BarnyardCruz and Kevin @Solucid!