The Crazies: Review By Red Camera Man

I never got a chance to see this movie in the theater. I still wanted to see it because it looked really cool from the previews, especially the song "Mad World" that was played at the end of the trailer. However, I was also a little worried that this movie was going to be a lot like "Shutter Island" since that movie was so long and boring...and deceitful from that movie's trailer and previews. I was worried that "The Crazies" might drag on too much and be focused on too much talking instead of the horror suspense that was shown from the previews just like "Shutter Island" did. Also, many people wanted to see this movie really bad the same way they reacted when they wanted to see "Shutter Island" so bad, so that got me a little down too. Well, I'm glad to say, this movie was a lot better than I thought it would be and it really is a fun-and-thrilling zombie horror movie...except the disappointing ending but I'll get on that later. This is also a remake that works really well and it's a lot better than the 1973 original that actually looks stupid (No offense, George Romero), but luckily, we got this remake instead! Let me focus on reviewing this movie:

STORY: (Caution: This contains some major spoilers!) This movie has a nice plot that follows well and it actually got me interested after the beginning! The movie starts off with a crazy who walks on the diamond with a loaded shotgun during a baseball game and is ready to kill someone. And after Sheriff Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) shoots him down, he soon realizes that something weird and odd is going on when people in Ogden Marsh are starting to become crazy bloodthirsty killers, and that government agents are now taking deadly control over the area under quarantine.

In response to my main quote above, here's what I think about the government: I think that they're just a bunch of communist crooks that only care about money and land control and don't care about anyone or anything else! I was curious whether they were going to be really bad in this movie. Turns out I was right. It was at the end of this movie: Just as I thought the main characters would live a better and happy life at this new town they arrive at in Iowa, we get a satellite's point of view from outer space and we see the words at the bottom of the screen: "Initiate Containment Protocol." As soon as I saw that scene happen right before the end credits started to roll, I was so disappointed. It means that the government is still gonna put chemicals in the water supply, quarantine the area, and decrease the population! That was the only thing I didn't like about the movie. But as for the other plot, I was still interested in wondering how the main characters were gonna survive, get out of town alive, and get to safety! So yeah, I still enjoyed the plot and I still really liked this movie...it's just the ending I don't like, but that's only it.

ACTING: I had no problems with the acting. Timothy Olyphant's acting was flawless and he acted so dead serious especially whenever his deputy partner is acting crazy, being disobedient, and always shooting down anyone he doesn't trust from his sniper rifle. I was really impressed. Joe Anderson also does an excellent job for his role as the sheriff's once-trusted deputy partner. Towards the end of this movie, you actually don't think you can trust him anymore by the way he was acting. Radha Mitchell as the sheriff's wife was no problem too. The teenage actress playing the black-haired chick was a little rough, but that's what her character has to be like I guess. Other than her acting, the other performances in this movie were great, especially the actors/actresses playing the infected crazies!

DIRECTING: I loved and enjoyed Breck Eisner's directing to the film. This remake was a lot better than George Romero's 1973 original. His directing and editing to the movie was also a HELL of a lot better than Martin Scorsese's terrible directing and screwed-up editing in "Shutter Island!" Some of the music in this movie was also great and spooky as well! There was also one scene in this movie that actually freaked me out and gave me the chills! I won't spoil it, but it reminded me of that one particular scene in "The Strangers!" Kudos to Breck Eisner for bringing suspenseful thrills in this movie! Martin Scorsese failed for "Shutter Island," but at least Breck Eisner succeeded by making "The Crazies" a fun-and-thrilling zombie horror movie!

VISUALS: The visuals were great! The character designs on the infected crazies look fantastic and realistic! There's also some blood in this movie too, especially that one scene of a crazy holding a pitchfork! This movie is also set in dark spots where it's night time, making it look visual and feel spooky!

OVERALL: So, do I think that this is the best horror remake ever made? Like what other people are saying about it after they saw it? Well, it works really well and it does give you the chills, but I don't think it's THE #1 best one of the year so far. I was really looking forward for it to be totally awesome until the disappointing ending came along. "The Wolfman" still remains as the #1 best horror remake so far this year in my opinion, but I do and still think that this remake of "The Crazies" is a really good horror movie that works well. It's no where near that other terrible horror remake: "The Fog," so that's good. I bought the DVD of this movie and I'm having a good time watching it again, and I bet I can handle the ending this time around. Well, despite the ending, I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a fun-and-enjoyable zombie horror movie to watch! This movie is a lot better than "Shutter Island," it doesn't drag on at all since it's only 1hr-and-40mins, it reveals the truth about the government, and it really is suspenseful! It's dark, cool, spooky, and most of all, it's interesting!