MOTM June 2010- The Crazies (1973)

[GP]

A military bioweapon is accidentally released into a small town, the military subsequently try to cover up then contain the incident as the townspeople go crazy (hence the title), revolt or both.

Cue traditional Romero themes regarding the family unit, the military and the nature of the human response to catastrophe.

Subject to a recent remake by Breck Eisner.

[GL]

A 1. I can't call this a horror film at all, there wasn't anything approaching that for me in this. And even if it is, it sucks massively.

[GP]

Appropriate then that this forum is called Horror Movies and More.

[HNT]

I give it a 4 (really more of a 3.5, but I'll round up). the film definitely has its weaknesses, but it is pretty good. It is a great premise, and the opening is spot on. The low budget and amateur acting had a greater negative effect on this one than it does on Romero's best films. It does have enough moments, though, to make it well worth a watch

[GL]

Jun 1, 2010 5:09:57 GMT -5 GP said:

Appropriate then that this forum is called Horror Movies and More.

I know, I just don't think much of it at all, no matter what kind of film it is. You want me to call it a horror film, I can't do that, and at the end of the day, I thought it sucked terribly without anything positive to say about it.

[Jen]

I thought this was interesting, but ultimately pretty disappointing. I like the premise, but in my opinion, he laid it on way too thick. Which may have been okay (as much as I love Romero, he's not known for subtlety) but I didn't find ANY of the main characters all that sympathetic.

I say a 3. Watchable, but definitely not one of his best, in my opinion.

[HNT]

I still think that the opening scene with the knitting needle was very well done. I also think that a couple of scenes showing people transforming into "Crazies" were fairly worthwhile. Overall, though, I agree that the film is very flawed. I kind of see it as a bridge between Night and Dawn. It is clear that Romero had some of the same ideas here that he explored in Dawn, but he hadn't quite figured out how he wanted to do it. Not to mention, although Romero has battled low budgets his whole career, this one is even lower than usual. He clearly just could not afford to make the movie he had in his head, and did not do as well at compromising his vision into something that really worked as he did in Dawn and Day.

On the other hand, if you listen to the DVD commentary track, you will hear Romero talking about what a great time he had making this with all of his friends. That, in and of itself, is kind of nice and fun to listen to.

[abraxas]

I thought it was good, certainly not Romero's best effort, probably his worse, although it does have one of the greatest death scenes ever put in a film.

[HNT]

Nah, Brax, definitely not his worst either. Season of the Witch (aka Jack's Wife) and There's Always Vanilla are both nearly unwatchable. If you are looking for bad Romero, there it is. I love GAR (probably my favorite horror director) but his stinkers are real stinkers. This one is just half baked. Not awful

[Jen]

I agree, I definitely don't think its his worst.
And I will give the commentary a listen sometime, I think I would enjoy that.

[abraxas]

Never saw Season, and I didnt even know Vanilla was ever completed, none the less being on dvd

[The Walking Dude]

Yoiks I havent seen it in years.I own it,but the few times I've gave it a whirl I slumber.Now slumber for me is not a condition of quality,as I dose in even my favourite flicks.I'll reserve judgement and resolve to get through it this month.

[HNT]

Jun 4, 2010 4:11:28 GMT -5 @abraxas said:

Never saw Season, and I didnt even know Vanilla was ever completed, none the less being on dvd

Well, I can't say you are missing much. If you are a completist, you might get them on that basis (like I did). Know ahead of time goign in, though, that they are just truly bad movies without much of anything to recommend them.

[7]

The Crazies. The beginning was promising but it all fell apart from there.

It was still enjoyable, however, in the way that nearly all Romero films are enjoyable.

[abraxas]

Lyn Lowry is friggin hot though.....70s looking chicks Mmmmmmmm