Over the past several years, the film industry has become overrun with movies about people becoming infected by a virus who the turn to killing everyone around them. '28 Days Later' has been one of the most popular and for a British made horror film, is actually one of the better ones. Then enter 'The Crazies.'
Set in the town of Ogden Marsh, the small community go about their normal day to day business. David and Judy Dutton are the town's Sheriff and doctor respectively both of who are well liked in the close-knit town community. Suddenly strange things begin to happen; people start acting oddly and appear to be prone to violence. As the body count starts to add up and with the town in disarray, the government soon arrives to cordon the town off. Then the true reality of 'the crazies,' is realised.
The actors portray some strong performances, which adds depth to their characters. The movie is perfectly paced, and there are some intense sequences, with some incredible inventive gore. The direction is impressive and i believe there was a lot of attention to detail here. It is apparent also that the director did not depend solely on the violence within the content of the film. The way certain sequences are edited, they cut away from some of the more graphic moments, which coincidentally gives more of a psychological impact on an audience.
One of the elements which i thoroughly liked about this film, is that it doesn't waste any time trying to discover the reason for the 'crazie' behaviour, the focus is that of the survivors and how they react to the situation they find themselves entangled in. Although the twists in the narrative are predictable at times, the film carries a tense atmosphere right to the end.
Even though the concept is nothing original, the film was made stylistic and carried the narrative through a lot more effectively than some others. One of the better horror films of this century.
Set in the town of Ogden Marsh, the small community go about their normal day to day business. David and Judy Dutton are the town's Sheriff and doctor respectively both of who are well liked in the close-knit town community. Suddenly strange things begin to happen; people start acting oddly and appear to be prone to violence. As the body count starts to add up and with the town in disarray, the government soon arrives to cordon the town off. Then the true reality of 'the crazies,' is realised.
The actors portray some strong performances, which adds depth to their characters. The movie is perfectly paced, and there are some intense sequences, with some incredible inventive gore. The direction is impressive and i believe there was a lot of attention to detail here. It is apparent also that the director did not depend solely on the violence within the content of the film. The way certain sequences are edited, they cut away from some of the more graphic moments, which coincidentally gives more of a psychological impact on an audience.
One of the elements which i thoroughly liked about this film, is that it doesn't waste any time trying to discover the reason for the 'crazie' behaviour, the focus is that of the survivors and how they react to the situation they find themselves entangled in. Although the twists in the narrative are predictable at times, the film carries a tense atmosphere right to the end.
Even though the concept is nothing original, the film was made stylistic and carried the narrative through a lot more effectively than some others. One of the better horror films of this century.