How do you get audiences to pay $11.50 for a movie, which, at least initially, appears to scream sub-par? You show them a theatrical trailer filled with quick scenes comprised of things audiences enjoy to lure them in, then do a little sleight of hand and give them a typical horror film mixed with a few surprises and enough jumps to satisfy the horror flick movie goers’ expectations.
“The Crazies,” starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell, is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name by George Romero of “Night of the Living Dead” fame. The film, this time directed by Breck Eisner, chronicles the escape of Sheriff David Dutton (Olyphant) and his wife Judy (Mitchell) from their small town after the citizens begin going insane.
Coming into the movie, the viewer is met with a quick introduction to the small town atmosphere before rapidly bringing on the conflict of the movie — citizens acting oddly. It felt as if the move producers knew that the kids munching on popcorn and holding onto their chair arms for dear life weren’t interested in set up, character introduction or dialogue. The difficulty with a horror flick is that it’s a two edged sword: err on one side and your flick is too slow, err on the other and your flick is extremely fast paced but leaves much to be desired. Rarely, if ever, do horror movies find the sweet spot between rapid-paced thrills and marginal depth, and “The Crazies” is no exception.
With Mark Isham’s excellent score driving the constant juxtaposition of suspense and light moments, the average horror-flick consumer can suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy the first portion of the movie.
However, with a mind to keep gore-lovers captivated, the picture earns its R rating with frightening and sometimes brutal sequences splashed throughout.
The dialogue feels mostly natural, with both Olyphant and Mitchell doing a fine job of portraying their shallow roles while being helped along by their mostly faceless supporting cast. Although many characters die in the movie, the film doesn’t delve deep enough into any of the characters for the audience to feel even the slightest bit of sadness for the loss.
There are a couple of moments in the film that shine through to let audiences know this film isn’t a total waste. Olyphant’s character portrays a unique kind of loyalty towards his wife and his dedication is lauded by the movie. He often carries an attitude characterized by optimism, which, in dire circumstances such as the ones that take place in the movie, is needed. Also, being that a horror film’s main business is jumps, this one gives a few startlingly surprising ones. Take it from a seasoned horror film connoisseur: one can often go through multiple films before finding a good jump like a few of those found in “The Crazies.” In addition, if the only thing one knew about the film were the clips shown from the preview, there are a couple of small twists that will provide intrigue to the movie.
All in all, “The Crazies” goes where many films have gone before by giving its viewers exactly what they were expecting. While this may disappoint those looking for depth and Academy Award winning acting, for the average Joe who likes his flicks violent with a side of thrill, this film will serve up a fine combination of both. Do note, this film may unsettle the easily impressionable due to its graphic nature, however, a moderate horror film viewer will find it a satisfying morsel in his or her horror film buffet.
