The Crazies poster

1973·103 min·Released

The Crazies

“Why are the good people dying?”

Science Fiction
Horror
Action

The military attempts to contain a manmade virus causing death and permanent insanity in those infected, as it overtakes a small Pennsylvania town.

6.1(417 votes)

Popularity3

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Original Trailer

Cast & Crew

Lane Carroll

Lane Carroll

Judy

Will MacMillan

Will MacMillan

David

Harold Wayne Jones

Harold Wayne Jones

Clank

Lynn Lowry

Lynn Lowry

Kathy

Lloyd Hollar

Lloyd Hollar

Col. Peckem

Richard Liberty

Richard Liberty

Artie

Richard France

Richard France

Dr. Watts

Harry Spillman

Harry Spillman

Maj. Ryder

Bill Thunhurst

Bill Thunhurst

Brubaker

Stephen Liska

Stephen Liska

Soldier

S. William Hinzman

S. William Hinzman

Man Shooting at Doctor's Office

Will Disney

Will Disney

Dr. Brookmyre

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CinemaSerf

Written on 4/1/2023

I suppose this might resonate more now in the wake of the recent global lockdown, but I'm afraid I found it all rather tame and predictable. A devastating virus is accidentally released in a small Pennsylvania town and the military have to contain it before the gradual, but irreversible, insanity it causes spreads throughout the entire country. Responsibility for this onerous task rests firmly with "Col. Peckem" (Lloyd Hollar) as he has to contend with an increasingly fed up local mayor, communications problems and a town that is slowly becoming more and more lawless (and dangerous) by the minute. It doesn't help that, pregnant, local nurse "Judy" (Lane Carroll) has skulked off with fireman husband "David" (Will MacMillan) to try escape the quarantine zone and so he has to try and track them down too. Finally, there is the eccentric "Dr. Watts" (Richard France) who is trying to find a cure for this by sampling the blood of just about everybody/thing he can jab a needle into. This is all your standard contagion horror film, and is produced to a remarkably mediocre standard. The acting is pretty ropey, the script likewise and the denouement is probably the least realistic you could imagine. Taken with your tongue in your cheek, it might raise a smile or two as the stupefied locals take on more zombified (and super-human) strengths, but this is just a rehash of some more charismatically cast Hammer style films without the slightest sense of peril. It does reiterate the oft presented position that the US Military is great at starting problems but hopeless at solving them, but I'm not sure that's what George A. Romero was looking for when he created this rather feeble effort. I saw it on a big screen just last week and I made it through to the end. I won't bother with it again.

Media

George A. Romero is TIMELESS

George A. Romero is TIMELESS

Was George A. Romero right about this?

Was George A. Romero right about this?

The Crazies ≣ 1973 ≣ Trailer #1

The Crazies ≣ 1973 ≣ Trailer #1

The Crazies ≣ 1973 ≣ Trailer #2

The Crazies ≣ 1973 ≣ Trailer #2

Original Trailer

Original Trailer