The Crazies

1973 • 103 minutes

About this movie

From the director of zombie classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD comes this chilling film about biological warfare. Made in the shadow of both Vietnam and Watergate, THE CRAZIES is a grim allegory about a government conspiracy against the public that ultimately results in genocide. The story is set in director George Romero's home state of Pennsylvania. In the film, a government plane carrying a dangerous virus crashes near the small town of Evans City. The virus finds its way into the town's drinking water, turning everyone who is exposed to it into a murderous lunatic. Firefighter David (Will McMillan) and his pregnant wife, Judy (Lane Carroll), remain unaffected but face great danger in trying to escape the town, which has been quarantined by the US army, whose members lurk around every corner, clad in gas masks and protective suits. The President is often depicted as a detached talking head, offering no hope to citizens trapped by the mistakes of his administration. Similar in tone and structure to his DEAD trilogy, Romero's film overcomes a visibly limited budget to create a colorful 1970s genre film that neatly captures the feeling of governmental distrust that was characteristic of the Vietnam era. With both a social message and plenty of splatter, THE CRAZIES is an underrated but appealing horror film.

Ratings and reviews

A surprisingly realistic depiction of a town ravaged by a virus that drives people insane and military goons who are all too happy to lay waste to anyone that breaks their quarantine. It's nowhere close to as good as his masterpieces (NotLD and Dawn), but Romero once against makes a compelling horror film that blows many other b-films of this era out of the water. If you enjoyed the chaotic first part of Dawn of the Dead (1978), you'll enjoy this movie as it has the same frenetic energy and liberal amounts of violence. The acting isn't exactly top notch, but compared to most b-movies, it's above average. There are some familiar faces for Romero fans too. Richard Liberty makes an appearance in this one, 12 years before he became 'Frankenstein' in Day of the Dead (1985). Recommended for fans of Romero and 70s b-movies.

2 and a half. The new one is way better. This one is interesting like the new one, but it's too all over the place.

its an interesting idea about experiments where people are droven mad and scientist must stop them but just watch dawn of the dead (1978) not the remake