Watch The Crazies

In 1973, the movie ‘The Crazies’ was released. Directed by George A. Romero, it starred Lane Carroll, Will MacMillan, and Harold Wayne Jones. The Crazies is a horror-thriller that takes place in a small town. The film takes inspiration from the real-life threat of chemical warfare and its effects on society. The film starts with a military airplane crash that contaminates the water supply of a small town in Pennsylvania. The virus from the contaminated water affects the people, turning them into raving, insane killers. The government responds rather poorly to the crisis, forcibly quarantining the town and the surrounding area. The military seals off all roads leading in and out of the town, and soldiers are sent in to contain the population. The remaining townspeople, including the town's sheriff, his deputy, and their wives, find themselves trapped within the cordoned-off area, alongside the crazed killers.

The movie is terrifying and suspenseful, with creepy music to support the ominous atmosphere. The movie's opening sequence foreshadows the catastrophic impact of the contaminant on the town. A scientist panics and accidentally infects himself with a deadly chemical. Plus, the camera angles, particularly the close-ups of the infected townspeople's eyes, instill a sense of dread and trepidation.

The characters in the film are incredibly well-developed. Lane Carroll plays Judy, the sheriff's wife. She is a mother who struggles to hide her emotions from her family. Her emotional struggle elevates the tension in the movie. Will MacMillan portrays David, who is the town's deputy and is thrust into the role of acting sheriff when the primary sheriff becomes infected. He struggles to maintain his sanity, facing both the infected townspeople and his dwindling mental faculties. The character Harold Wayne Jones plays is named Clank, a local firefighter who joins the survivors on their journey.

The real terror in this movie comes from the fact that the infected people are not supernatural monsters, wizards, or any sort of unimaginable creature. Instead, they are everyday people who become homicidal and terrifying as a result of the chemical virus. In that sense, The Crazies is more of a science-fiction movie than a pure horror flick.

The story does a fantastic job of showing the effects the pandemic has on the humans. The townspeople start acting out in bizarre ways, such as the inhabitants of the local loony bin turned violent, and the town's own sheriff is about to shoot a kid. There are moments of violence in the movie that will make viewers feel genuinely uneasy.

The government's role in handling the pandemic is a topic represented in the movie. The army's primary concern is to stop the virus's spread, and they adopt brutal techniques to do so. This makes the survivors feel like they are hostages in their own homes. The government's inhumane treatment of the villagers (or the military's sense of humor that turns into merciless killing), just adds to the overall tension and sense of helplessness.

While ‘The Crazies’ is not as well-known as other horror movies from the 1970s, it is still a classic. The movie's real impact is how it mirrors the current society's troubles, where the authority is too busy solving their problems without noticing the impact on the people. It touches on how such acts of callousness can leave individuals defenseless against being trapped in their homes with the virus as their only company.

In conclusion, The Crazies is a well-crafted horror-thriller that is worth the watch. Its thrills resonate with viewers to this day. From the camerawork to the characters' development and the stunning performances, there is no doubt that this film will scare viewers out of their wits. Even with the dated, low budget production quality, the film's impact and its chilling themes make it a classic of its time.

The Crazies is a 1973 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 63.