The Crazies (1973)

Featured Audience Ratings

• xGary X

  
  A small American town is quarantined by the military to prevent the spread of an extremely virulent contagion that induces madness and death. Made in between Romero's Night and Dawn Of The Dead films, The Crazies is almost like a stepping stone that provides an insight into what… More
  A small American town is quarantined by the military to prevent the spread of an extremely virulent contagion that induces madness and death. Made in between Romero's Night and Dawn Of The Dead films, The Crazies is almost like a stepping stone that provides an insight into what might have happened when the zombie plague started to spread. Unfortunately zombies are a damn sight more interesting than people going a bit batshit and as a result, this very low budget B-movie struggles to make any impact at all. It bounces between behind the scenes of the put upon military and its scientists trying to find a cure, and a group of mildly annoying civilians trying to escape the quarantine zone which amounts to the film being 50% men in uniform shouting at each other and 50% people running around in the woods shooting guns. And that's it. There are none of the clever analogies or subtexts (or plot for that matter) you find in the Dead series and it soon becomes extremely tiresome. It's clearly an influential film, the opening scenes obviously inspiring those of the Dawn Of The Dead remake and the "fast zombie" format of modern horror was clearly born here but there's just not enough to it to warrant an hour and three quarters of your time. The fact is, it's just plain boring.

• AJ V

  
  First of all, Romero reuses the plot of Night of the Living Dead, but sets it outside instead. I don't know what the point of this movie is supposed to be, why didn't he just make another zombie movie? And why did they remake this?

• James A

  
  I think I watch Romero movies just so I can give them 1 star.

• Anthony L

  
  The Crazies is an old school horror/thriller cult classic. Done on a shoe-string budget with all the B-Movie trimmings. Unlike most classic horror films though, a remake, or a contemporary version of, is most welcome and I look forward to seeing what they've done with it. The… More
  The Crazies is an old school horror/thriller cult classic. Done on a shoe-string budget with all the B-Movie trimmings. Unlike most classic horror films though, a remake, or a contemporary version of, is most welcome and I look forward to seeing what they've done with it. The character of Clank should really have more recognition though, Harold Wayne Jones's sly one-liners and sarcastic glances are brilliant!

• Ken S

  
  Really really really really really really manic.

• Jeff "

  
  After Romero directed his legendary film Night Of The Living Dead in 1968, he shifted into different territory and made quite a few flops in the 70's. One of them was an overlooked jewel of Horror film called The Crazies about people being exposed to a bio chemical weapon that… More
  After Romero directed his legendary film Night Of The Living Dead in 1968, he shifted into different territory and made quite a few flops in the 70's. One of them was an overlooked jewel of Horror film called The Crazies about people being exposed to a bio chemical weapon that makes them crazy. Some reviews of this classic have suggested that Danny Boyle director of the excellent zombie film 28 Days Later took inspiration from this film. From start to finish this film feels like a military propaganda film designed to scare the viewer, thats how it felt like while I watched it. I very much enjoyed this film, although some viewers will find it long and boring before the film finishes. It's true that some parts of the film drags on, but when things happen, they sure as hell happen. This film shouldn't be ignored it should be seen and enjoyed.

• Conner R

  
  I think the fact that this movie has people in nutty gas masks is amazing enough, but it's actually an ultra realistic look at the spread of infection. It just sort of freaks you out that something like a quarantine can occur anywhere. The actors did a really good job at making… More
  I think the fact that this movie has people in nutty gas masks is amazing enough, but it's actually an ultra realistic look at the spread of infection. It just sort of freaks you out that something like a quarantine can occur anywhere. The actors did a really good job at making me officially convinced that this was believable, and not a pulp story. It is somewhat dated, but it just makes the movie all the more charming.

• Randy T

  
  Cult 'classic' with lots of low-budget effects and a few unintentionally funny moments. Keep your expectations low and don't take it too seriously.

• Aaron N

  
  Col. Peckem: No one gets in or out of the town is that clear! A thriller from director and zombie master George Romero. I really like a lot of how this film was made in terms of its editing and production, however it's a shame that more advantage with the premise wasn't… More
  Col. Peckem: No one gets in or out of the town is that clear! A thriller from director and zombie master George Romero. I really like a lot of how this film was made in terms of its editing and production, however it's a shame that more advantage with the premise wasn't taken. The basic premise surrounds a town that has been hit by a biological weapon that causes death and permanent insanity. The military arrives soon enough to quarantine the entire town, but is forced to kill anyone trying to escape. The film has two subplots, one of which follows the efforts of five particular civilians to stay alive during the disaster. The other involves the efforts of political and military leaders to contain the epidemic of violent insanity induced by the weapon. Patient: We were asleep. They just dragged us out of the house. The way this film is assemble is pretty effective. The editing makes a good balance between both plots, with Romero's static style of filmmaking creating a jarring environment to keep cutting through. The repeated use of soundtrack queues, call backs to other moments, and juxtaposition of images certainly informed me that Romero had a good idea for how he wanted to make this film and have it work effectively. Of course, being a Romero film, there is also social commentary at work throughout the film as well, mainly involving the work of the military in charge. Not being a Romero zombie film, it was neat to see his bag of tricks at work in a different kind of film, even if it is still the thriller/horror territory. The problems I had with this film involve its somewhat slow pace and lack of general craziness that the title and premise implies. I'm sure with a bigger budget (which the upcoming remake of course has) and some clearer story direction, the film could have played out much better. However, for a B-flick, I did find the performances to be quite strong throughout, something Romero usually does a good enough job with. Neat premise, that could use some work. Scientist: We'll find a cure, sooner or later. Col. Peckem: Hmph. Sooner or later.

• Cassandra M

  
  Confusion, panic, desperation, hopelessness: George Romero's The Crazies not only employs the same dynamic as his 1979 classic Dawn of the Dead, but also has a similar style and pacing, making it an interesting companion piece to the director's long running zombie series.… More
  Confusion, panic, desperation, hopelessness: George Romero's The Crazies not only employs the same dynamic as his 1979 classic Dawn of the Dead, but also has a similar style and pacing, making it an interesting companion piece to the director's long running zombie series. Technically, the film might lack the polish of Romero's later work (the editing, in particular, ain't that great), and it is perhaps a bit too talkative at times, but for fans of the Pittsburgh auteur, it should still be considered a 'must-see' movie. As in Dawn of the Dead, society is facing collapse in the wake of a deadly epidemic that has been caused by the accidental release of a biological weapon; however in this film, the result of the contagion is not a plague of flesh-eating corpses, but rather a madness that can cause victims to commit sudden acts of violence. Whilst the army struggles to cover up their mistake and prevent further contamination, and a lone scientist (Dawn of the Dead's Richard France) attempts to formulate a vaccine, two firefighters (Will MacMillan and Harold Wayne Jones) try to lead a small group of people (including Day of the Dead's Richard Liberty and cult actress Lynn Lowry) to safety, with the biggest threat coming from the ominous, trigger-happy, HazMat-suited soldiers roaming the countryside. Once again Romero cleverly combines political commentary with visceral action, delivering an intelligent horror that not only provides excitement, tension, splatter, and a delightfully downbeat ending, but also something for the mind to chew over: although seeing a seemingly meek, old woman stabbing a soldier to death with her knitting needles is undeniably shocking, the real horror comes from the distinct possibility of such a situation occurring, and the extreme procedures implemented by the government following the outbreak, which include having a bomber with a nuclear payload circling the area in preparation for the worst eventuality (interestingly, the same 'last resort' was used to contain the zombie outbreak in the excellent 1985 comedy/horror Return of the Living Dead, a film inextricably linked to Romero's work).

• Tim S

  
  A lost Romero classic.

• _kelly .

  
  Second/third screening: see it for the B movie it is, but still an essential step in Romero's career. I think the only thing failing him is the budget; given bigger production values, this could have been a much better movie and potentially a classic.<br/><br/>First… More
  Second/third screening: see it for the B movie it is, but still an essential step in Romero's career. I think the only thing failing him is the budget; given bigger production values, this could have been a much better movie and potentially a classic.<br/><br/>First screening reaction:<br/>This is awesome!!! Solid acting, stunning action, interesting story concept and well executed plot, and wow doesn't Romero know how to use 35mm for his first time! It's clear to see from this movie how the director's subsequent film was a watershed work.

• David L

  
  Originally a box-office disappointment at the time of its release, The Crazies in recent years finally began to get some of the respect it deserves. A violent, emotional, deeply personal outcry against the senselessness of the Vietnam War and other atrocities, it deals with horrors… More
  Originally a box-office disappointment at the time of its release, The Crazies in recent years finally began to get some of the respect it deserves. A violent, emotional, deeply personal outcry against the senselessness of the Vietnam War and other atrocities, it deals with horrors that seem all too possible. The setting is Evans City, Pennsylvania, where a governmentally-developed chemical known as "Trixie" has contaminated the water supply and turned citizens into unbalanced nuts. Soon the military invades the town and declares martial law, turning out to be an even bigger threat than the "crazies" of the title. Confused and defensive, some of the Evans City residents rebel and are often shot to death for their trouble. Five people steal a van and attempt escape. But it's never quite as simple as you'd think, with fully-rounded characters and such a sense of and panicked immediacy that all you can do is watch as the situation becomes more dire with every passing minute. George Romero delivers a turbulent, unpolished piece of cinema that proves both entertaining and highly thought-provoking in its downbeat societal critique. It's a cautionary tale that warns us that we'd better get it together soon, before this hell becomes our reality. We are asked, Why does it have to be this way? Are we so screwed up as a society that it has to come to this? The sad, haunting theme song, "Heaven Help Us," written by Melissa Manchester and Carole Bayer Sager and sung by Beverly Bremers, rams home the concept, begging us to consider what we're doing to each other. The acting is terrific, particularly Lynn Lowry as a repressed teenage girl who finally lashes out. The characters are given depth and believability, and you can't help but feel sad and helpless in the face of the unfolding events. Very well paced, with lots of startling, sometimes gory, visuals, all presented in a cinema verite manner that makes them even more bleak and unsettling. An enthralling study of panic and authoritarian domination, I have no doubt that The Crazies is a very important film. This is our society. Heaven help us.

• Curtis L

  
  Got pretty bored. They were basically zombies but not. George A. Romero needs to explore some more options.

• Greg A

  
  Fuck this movie! It took 25 minutes to get interesting in the form of someone losing their shit, the rest of the time it is the boring command center sequences going over the same shit again and again and then finally we get to the one interesting group of "survivors" in the… More
  Fuck this movie! It took 25 minutes to get interesting in the form of someone losing their shit, the rest of the time it is the boring command center sequences going over the same shit again and again and then finally we get to the one interesting group of "survivors" in the movie. They are the one redeemable thing about this movie, I grow to care for them and then they go insane or "crazy" if you will in their own unique ways. The girls get overly nice, one guy starts making out with his daughter not knowing what he is even doing (it's so nasty and so wrong). The overly ugly member of the group who looks a bit like a gargoyle becomes overly paranoid and then devolves into a state of constantly forgetting everything. This shit is super interesting yet its downplayed with these army scenes and those boring to death command center scenes. What the command center scenes really reminded me of were the oval office scenes in Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space. Important men of power rambling on over-sized walkie-talkies about impending doom and how to control the situation. Was I entertained? For a tenth of the movie I was engaged, the rest of the nine tenths was trying really hard to make me feel so uncomfortable and bored that its like the movie didn't want to be watched by me.

• Emily B

  
  Not that great. Though to be fair it could have been alot better if the budget was bigger as the story itself it's quite a good idea. I don't know whether it was intentional but I found myself laughing quite a bit throughout (an example being the girl with the broom!). Oh,… More
  Not that great. Though to be fair it could have been alot better if the budget was bigger as the story itself it's quite a good idea. I don't know whether it was intentional but I found myself laughing quite a bit throughout (an example being the girl with the broom!). Oh, and if ever a film overused military drumming it's this one!

• Patrick D

  
  Virus horror and a very strong message that still holds today, which turns out to be actually quite a good movie, but still your regular Romero fare. It's a good movie I think but after seeing classics of his before I can't give it to high a rating.

• John M

  
  A very low budget film that urgenly need more craziness.

• ken j

  
  Another Romero classic hightly underrated movie

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