Now even though it isn't a zombie movie, it'll still feel like one and if you've seen any George A. Romero films before, you know how it'll play out. Instead of a group of survivors taking on zombies, it's a group of survivors taking on slightly deranged living humans. I have watched a lot of zombie movies in my time, so there were times in The Crazies where I felt I could tune out; since it was following the blueprint that has been used for decades, I would be able to snap back in and know exactly what was going to happen next. The Crazies plays very formulaic like that.
The Crazies may be formulaic at points and some of the acting may be a little questionable at times, but considering the mainstream horror films that have been coming out in recent years, this is almost a masterpiece by comparison. It is well directed and has some great special effects (the makeup designs for the infected are zombie reminiscent but not over the top and look like something that could actually happen to someone). Timothy Olyphant is wonderful as the lead, and The Crazies is the kind of horror movie that doesn't feel over the top; in all actuality, this very situation could actually happen so if I were you, I'd stay out of Iowa for a little while.
Special Features
The Crazies is packed to the brim with special features. There's the obligatory audio commentary by director Breck Eisner as well as all the trailers for the film. Also included are some very interesting documentaries on the makeup artist, creating the pandemic, and my personal favorite entitled "The George A. Romero Template" where the filmmaker, cast, and some of the more horror-savvy press look back on the impact of Romero's body of work as well as his "screw the system" attitude towards Hollywood. It get's a little bit too self-serving, but you can't deny that Romero's films have created the blueprint for zombie movies that will be followed until they finally stop getting made.
Another high point are the two motion comics that are prequels to the main Crazies story. They follow two different characters from the film (the one who shows up on the baseball field and the one who burns the house down) as they slowly become infected and what is going on inside their head as they go from rational to homicidal. It does a good job of getting you more acquainted with the universe this film takes place in and I love it when there are special features that expand on things a little more for the fans who bought the DVD.
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