Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Hopes for ‘The Crazies’

The Crazies

This is getting pretty crazy.”

This week’s new remake of George A. Romero’s 1973 horror movie The Crazies, about the outbreak of a deadly virus in a small town, didn’t screen for review, so we took a look at the original for inspiration. Here are four elements from Romero’s film that we hope to see in the 2010 version:

A modicum of social commentary. The Crazies, made in the waning days of the Vietnam War, raises questions about military authority and how soldiers readjust after combat, and features a prominent image of a priest self-immolating after contracting the deadly disease.

Some mordant humor. Even Romero’s most gruesome films are shot through with a sick sense of humor, and The Crazies has its share of darkly funny moments—watch as the chain-smoking military commander realizes that his cigarette is useless when he’s wearing a life-saving gas mask.

A frenetic, unnerving pace. Romero’s early films can suffer from a threadbare feel, thanks to low budgets and hurried shoots, and the acting is often rough. But that roughness also gives the movie a sense of urgency that makes it all the more disturbing.

An old lady stabbing a soldier to death with knitting needles.

Because that’s just badass.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy