Product Description

Its code name is 'Trixie,' an experimental government germ weapon that leaves its victims either dead or irreversibly insane. When the virus is accidentally unleashed in Evans City, Pennsylvania, the small community becomes a war zone of panicked military, desperate scientists and gentle neighbors turned homicidal maniacs. Now a small group of citizens has fled to the town's outskirts where they must hide from trigger-happy soldiers while battling their own depraved urges. But even if they can escape the madness of this plague, can they survive the unstoppable violence of THE CRAZIES?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18248 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-04-29
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 103 minutes

Amazon.com
During the 10 years between Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, director George Romero had a string of box-office flops--some of which were actually quite good. For example,there's The Crazies, in which a military plane carrying biological-warfare agents crashes near Evans City, Pennsylvania. The virus gets into the town's water supply and has two effects on the infected: death or irreversible insanity. The military moves in to contain the situation, but the local populace regards the army as a menacing force and things rapidly spin out of control. Soon the highly contagious virus infects the whole town and the soldiers as well, while a government scientist races to find an antidote. The Crazies features some great set pieces as the virus spreads: a little old lady smiles sweetly and stabs a soldier to death with a knitting needle; a young woman placidly sweeps with a broom while soldiers and locals have a bloody firefight around her; a soldier swings his rifle wildly at his comrades until they shoot him.

Made in the shadow of both Vietnam and Watergate, The Crazies contains plenty of allegory: an invasion by military force, government cover-up and duplicity, madness and eventually genocide (all set, of course, in Romero's beloved Pennsylvania). The President only appears on television, and then only the back of his head is shown as he speaks in detached, almost bored tones. Like Night of the Living Dead, this film offers no hope, no comfort, and sure as hell no happy ending. Keep an eye out for Romero in a somewhat gassy role as Evans City's mayor. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews

Interesting thriller from George Romero!
A deadly government made virus called "Code: Trixie" has just been unleashed into a Pennslyvania town called "Evan's City" as it contaminates some people as the effects are either death or insanity that leads them to kill people. However the local army and scientists are working on a cure as they must give vaccines to some of the non-infected people of the town. A few people such as a Vietnam vet with his pregnant wife secretly have to flee the virus and the deadly infected folk.

Interesting Sci-fi action horror thriller from the creator of "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead" George A. Romero that has his trademark brand of social satire mixed with horror elements and there are good themes about biological warfare including the effects of what it could do to people. Cult actress Lynn Lowrey, Richard France (Dawn of the Dead 1978) and Richard Liberty (Day of the Dead) co-star in this chilling action packed movie of paranoia and militant fear.

The DVD has good picture and sound quality with that nice remastering that "Blue Underground" always does to cult movies! A good audio commentary by George Romero is here with some nice extras like an interview with legendary Lynn Lowrey, poster-and-still gallery, George Romero bio, TV Spots and Trailers.

Also recommended: "Outbreak", " 28 Days Later", "Rabid", "The Brood", " Dawn of the Dead (1978 and 2004)", "Night of the Living Dead ( 1968 and 1990)", "Day of the Dead", "Resident Evil", " Scanners", " I Drink Your Blood", " The Hills Have Eyes", " Night of the Comet", " Return of the Living Dead 3", " Nightmare City ( a.k.a. City of the Walking Dead)", " Cannibal Apocalypse", "Akira", " The Omega Man".

Good Romero fare
THE CRAZIES was filmed during the time between Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and DAWN OF THE DEAD. This film certainly has more in common with DAWN in terms of pacing and editing.THE CRAZIES benefits from a lightning-fast pace and over-the-top editing which keeps you glued to the screen. The story is essentially your "small town is exposed to a lethal virus and quarantined" plot. We follow 5 people as they try to dodge the military and escape the town, but marshal law is declared and the military begin slaughtering the civilians, infected or not.

This film has so much in common with DAWN OF THE DEAD in terms of overall feel and production, that if you love DOTD, as most horror fans do, you really can't go wrong with THE CRAZIES.

"Goin' Crazy, Crazy on You!"
After coming out of nowhere with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD in 1968 Pittsburgh director George Romero made two flops that no one has ever heard of, THERE"S ALWAYS VANILLA and SEASON OF THE WITCH. Then in 1973 his financially strapped indie distributors begged him to make another "horror" film and for a paltry 270, 000 dollars he went to Evans City, PA and made THE CRAZIES. Its about an accidental bio-warfare spill that drives people crazy(you seeing where Danny Boyle got some inspiration for 28 Days Later?) and the Army's disastrous attempt at containment. Watching it today one is struck by its relentlessly downbeat tone and the power of the imagery; i was amazed at the hard-headedness; no one is spared unjustifiably to satisfy the demands of an audience--this is the 70's, remember--its got scenes that, in todays climate, seriously resonate: bio-suited soldiers taking over a small town, dragging screaming children from their beds, shooting escapees in the back; this has to be the most outright anti-militarist film from the early 70's besides PUNISHMENT PARK. This is heavy stuff, especially seen in the light of our current domestic situation,where police and military intrusions upon everyday life are becoming more and more "normal". You've got to hand it to George Romero, he doesn't pull any punches; At one point he has some civilians saying to our protagonists, " Let's wait for the army to help us!" to which one of the heroes, a vietnam veteran, replies,
"The army ain't anyone's friend, we know--we were in it!" For a film that originally came out in 1973 that line is not only prescient but brave;THE CRAZIES is unsparing in its depiction of the lunacy of the armed forces--even the soldiers themselves recognize it--in this way the film is similar in spirit to CATCH 22 and its chilling to think about how the entire concept was considered pretty far-fetched upon its first release--even though it was inspired by true events in Utah in which a cannister of nerve gas fell from an army truck and killed a bunch of cattle (also the subject of George C Scotts directorial debut, RAGE 1972. ) and to then realize how familiar, dare i say COMFORTABLE we are with these kinds of concepts today after the cult attacks in the tokyo subways in the 90's and all our current preoccupations with bio-warfare,dirty bombs and Homeland Security.
This is an excellent edition of this long unavailable film; It looks the best it probably ever has since it was first barely released in theatres back in '73. The commentary by George Romero
is hilarious and very entertaining as well as very informative. There is a big-budget remake scheduled for 2006 and I, for one, can't wait. If its anything like the fantastic 2004 remake of Romero's Dawn of the Dead, it will be awesome!THE CRAZIES remains one of the most potent indictments against out of control militarism that has ever been made in America and its also a gripping adventure story, told with style and ingenuity.