This 2010 remake of The Crazies builds on the story of a small town whose water supply is contaminated by an unknown poison. The original 1973 flick had two subplots, one following the civilians and the other involving the political and military leaders trying to contain the epidemic. The remake has both of these elements but focuses on the efforts the inhabitants of the small town take; how they discover the water supply is contaminated, how they go about resolving the issue, their reaction to the military involvement and their willpower to save loved ones from the containment massacre.
The plot has similarities to Cabin Fever with the toxin in the water causing everyone troubles. The principal narrative kicks in pretty quickly which is always good. You are instantly curious as to why a man is entering a high school baseball game carrying a gun and from this moment the locals begin to act odd and quite dangerous, including murdering their loved ones. It is when the telephones and Internet service goes down and the local are estranged from the outside world that Dr. Judy Dutton (Radha Mitchell), her husband Sheriff David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) and Dutton’s Deputy Russell Clank (Joe Anderson) realise they are in trouble. When the military round up the locals for “testing”, the torture they are subjected to is unpleasant, and their methods are completely inhuman. Shooting those that do not comply, taking children away from their parents with out a reason and segregating those that have a fever with the ones they suspect are unaffected, including the Sheriff and his pregnant wife.
As the plot deepens, you realise the military’s plans for the town are in fact even worse than you could have ever imagined. Whether you have a taste for violence, the gruesome slaughtering of infected individuals or the rotting flesh of zombie like folk trying to take a slash you, or just the seriousness of the issue regarding contaminated water and the military’s merciless acts again innocent people, there is not doubt something that will keep your attention engaged.
As the film concludes and you sit back in your chair contemplating what you have just seen, the film gently links in with a vision that sets up a sequel, so don’t be surprised if THE CRAZIES return for another jolting experience in another town in the future.
Michelle Moore