Cinematography & Aesthetic

As part of the early 2000s-2010s transition of films, The Crazies (2010) had a gritty way of filming the quieter scenes of David, Judy, and Russel when they walk over fields. Scenes of somber silence are followed with a very effective soundtrack, giving the feeling that the town of Ogden Marsh has become sick and died away before becoming a deranged ghost town. From the crops dying in the fields to car wrecks and blazing homes, the mood of the film is told in the scenery and the score.

When David fights one of the crazies or avoids the military, the camera tends to shake and the action of the scene is overloaded with erratic motion. Shaky cam is a technique that is often used to remove fighting choreography and adds tension. The erratic fights are effective at simulating how adrenaline spending the situations are. The tense action of the fights is well balanced with relief when the characters either escape or overcome.

Final Rating

Compared to many remakes of horror films, Especially George Romero’s films, The Crazies did an excellent job of retelling the story of madness and the constraining power of militarism with a fresh style and giving a new perspective to the story. Romero’s original was not as well known despite being well received compared to the more popular Dead trilogy. The 2010 film was a more solid film with a good plot flow. The movie is a high recommendation and can be watched on most streaming services, currently on HBO max.