Science FictionThrillerHorrorAction

The Crazies

- Why are the good people dying?

Citizens of a small town are infected by a biological weapon that causes its victims to become violently insane. As uninfected citizens struggle to survive, the military readies its own response.

Release Date : 1973-03-16

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Pittsburgh Films

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Code Name: Trixie

Cast

Character Name : Judy

Original Name : Lane Carroll

Gender : Female

Character Name : David

Original Name : Will MacMillan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clank

Original Name : Harold Wayne Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kathy

Original Name : Lynn Lowry

Gender : Female

Character Name : Col. Peckem

Original Name : Lloyd Hollar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Artie

Original Name : Richard Liberty

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Watts

Original Name : Richard France

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maj. Ryder

Original Name : Harry Spillman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brubaker

Original Name : Bill Thunhurst

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soldier

Original Name : Stephen Liska

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man Shooting at Doctor's Office

Original Name : S. William Hinzman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Brookmyre

Original Name : Will Disney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lab Technician

Original Name : Edith Bell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Shelby

Original Name : Leland Starnes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gen. Bowen

Original Name : A.C. McDonald

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Ross Harris

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-04-01

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.