The Crazies '10

The town of Ogden Marsh, Iowa, falls victim to a virus accidentally unleashed on it because of a plane crash, meant to carry it to another location. When soldiers are sent in to "contain" the virus (and those infected) four members of the town try to flee to a safe location, but avoiding the military and quarantine (not to mention the infected) will not be easy.
***½

I remember watching The Crazies (2010) in 2010 after it had ran for a few weeks, on a middle-of-the-week after-work day in the theater, basically the only one in there. It was a surprise because I wasn’t actually expecting it to really impress me like it did. The plot is straight forward with no real meat on the bones; I can’t make excuses for the familiarity and predictability of the concept of a virus that causes an Iowa town near Cedar Rapids called Ogden Marsh to fall prey to developing homicidal psychopathy. Sheriff David (Timothy Olyphant), his pregnant doctor wife, Judy (Radha Mitchell), David’s deputy, Russell (Joe Anderson), and Judy’s secretary, Becca (Danielle Panabaker) are on the run, after the military swoops in, quarantines the town, annihilates the populace (basically this is a farming community), and plans to bomb it all with the idea that this will contain the virus from spreading any further (the ending indicates that this idea may not be so successful, however). This film has the military (or at least those following protocol from the government ordering them to conceal the virus and not allow anyone with a potential as carriers of it to get out of the town or surrounding area alive) slaughtering innocent people who contracted a virus after (supposedly) a plane crashlands in a nearby swamp that leads to the drinking water, with a pilot found by hunters. Here is where the film hints might have been the beginnings of the virus, being delivered elsewhere but, for whatever reason, the plane’s crashing into water released it on the public of Ogden Marsh. Again, I can’t really say that the plot of this remake reinvents the wheel…far from it. Its good use of locations in Georgia and Iowa (often breathtaking wide screen compositions of farmland and space), strong casting (Olyphant finally getting to take the starring role after stealing scenes from others in past films doesn’t disappoint, with Radha equaling him in their realistic approach in conveying “oh, shit” fear, stern forward thinking, and intelligent decision making when all hell breaks loose around them; the real revelation, to me, is Anderson as Olyphant’s trusty deputy, actually coming to the hero’s aid on more than one occasion, eventually having to address the virus taking over his psychological/mental state), and some intense scenes of suspense (the car wash entrapment, the truck stop attack, soldiers obliterating a family while our four look on in horror while hiding in a nearby barn, the pitchfork carrying infected principal stabbing strapped people with Judy and Becca next on his list, our heroes hiding behind a vehicle as a truck load of hillbilly hunters shoot down anyone with the virus in their sights, the first virus-infected local arriving with a shotgun on a baseball field during a game, and a father setting his house on fire with his wife and son trapped in a closet inside are some good examples) really set this remake off and at least provide some thrills and excitement. Anyone who has watched their share of zombie films, though, will know what to expect, while those that aren’t fans of the genre will perhaps not find much value in the story. I can see criticisms towards the film regarding little surprise in the developing situation; it is rather hard to dispute those criticisms. That said, I found myself compelled by the film upon revisit if just because of the way the film is photographed and the cast (taking the material seriously, the direction and performances are sincere and don’t wink at you) having to contend with the terrifying ordeal (how to escape from the area without the military stopping/killing them and avoid maniacs of the virus that might be on the loose that weren’t eradicated) facing them. Becca’s fate at the car wash and Russell’s agonizing acceptance of the virus’ effects starting to take hold are dramatic moments that add much to the proceedings. Olyphant would go from here to his television hit, Justified, and this film would be a successful hit. At least, the remake is well produced with reactions from its characters (through the performances) regarding their dilemma that seem genuinely realistic. The score is of a manipulative nature, trying to influence the audience during key scenes of horror. The special effects, unlike in Romero’s film, show a physical deterioration and alterations that are caused by the virus, not just behavioral mania. I thought the sounds of the pitchfork on the floor and knife across the wall, both producing scraping, are unnerving and work to optimum effect. The opening scene with the town in flames is a definite grabber.

The film does kind of just get right to it, only minutes before the first infected farmer shows up on the baseball field, and soon others are also succumbing to the mania (such as the coroner, coming at David with a bone saw in the back of the funeral parlor) as the sheriff and his deputy investigate what's going on. Soon the discovery of the pilot gives way to the quarantine, with David losing control of his town to an overbearing military, equipped with oxygen masks, heavy uniforms, and machine guns. Seeing family members split apart by the soldiers is appropriately unsettling, as is seeing people gunned down in horrifying fashion. Like in Romero films of the past, we see the ugly nature of mankind when a man-made virus causes life-altering effects. Also like in Romero films, the military is not viewed in a positive light. Learning at the end that those who weren't infected were also "taken care of", sure doesn't cast an admirable light towards the military and our government. The scene where Olyphant and Mitchell contemplate what happened to those they once knew while in the truck stop speaks volumes about...they capably convey the frustration and exhaustion of everything they've been through, trying to gather their bearings and decide what is the next step.