Eye Candy #360 - "The Crazies" (1973)

The Crazies (1973):  Low-budget actioner about a chemical weapon that leeches into the water supply of a small Pennsylvania town, driving those exposed to it murderously insane.  The military comes in to close off the town and find a cure, while various townspeople try and survive.  More and more townspeople go insane, as the military lose control of the situation, hampered by their lack of technology and own bureaucracy. Directed by George Romero, this is one of his earlier post-”Night of the Living Dead” films from the  beginning of the 1970’s.  Not a horror movie, as much of his oeuvre is, this is more akin to “Outbreak” or even “Planet Terror”.  With a  budget of $250,000, you don’t get a lot in the way of special effects, but the film competently does what it does with creative editing and music even if it feels a bit like a made-for-TV movie.  Very kitsch in that “I can’t believe we wore that in the 70’s” way, while it feels dated, it’s not a bad flick.  The iconic  image of military personnel in white haz mat suits and gas masks is still spooky and effective.  A remake is due in 2010.  Woodchuck sez, “Worth a look.”