Tag: The Crazies

George Romero’s THE CRAZIES Midnights This Weekend at The Moolah


“Look, we’ve quarantined the area. We’re sealing off the town!”


THE CRAZIES screens Midnights this weekend (January 19th and 20th) at The Moolah Theater and Lounge (3821 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108) as part of  Destroy the Brain’s monthly Late Nite Grindhouse film series.


Just in case some stubborn people are still questioning the late George A. Romero’s talent after his 1968 milestone NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, do us all a favor and head over ot The Moolah this weekend for the midnight screenings of his 1973 horror follow-up  THE CRAZIES! Once again a film stuffed with subtle criticism on society and pitch black humor. THE CRAZIES immediately demands your full attention with a powerful pre-credits opening sequence and the high-excitement level is upheld throughout the entire movie. The little Pennsylvanian town of Evans City is overcome with a secret, but very lethal, government virus leaving the infected either dead or incurably insane. “Trixie” initially was developed as a chemical weapon, so not one of the scientists or army officers know how to put a stop to it when innocent people are exposed to it. The simple plot and cheap elaboration are excellently camouflaged by Romero’s sharp eye for detail. Right from the start, he builds up a tense atmosphere of truly realistic mass hysteria that confuses even you, the viewer, in not knowing which characters are infected and which aren’t. They could all simply be trigger-happy Pennsylvanian hillbillies for all we know! Although this film never really becomes “disturbing”, there are quite a few scenes that shock and that feel strangely real. You could also state “The Crazies” was quite ahead of its time because chemical warfare is much more in the picture now than it was 30 years ago, when this film got shot. Romero’s premise is simple but efficient: the malfunctioning and greed of the human race is much scarier than any fictional horror monster could ever be. Best example is the military men who become eerie and threatening in their icky white suits. Don’t miss THE CRAZIES Midnights this weekend


The Facebook invite for Friday night can be found HERE
https://www.facebook.com/events/1983796804982785/

The Facebook invite for Saturday night can be found HERE
https://www.facebook.com/events/1975756376083399/


TICKETS ARE $7 AND YOU CAN BUY THEM ONLINE VIA MOOLAH’S WEBSITE.

THE PSYCHOTRONIC PRE-SHOW STARTS AROUND 11:30P WITH THE FILM STARTING AT MIDNIGHT.

The Moolah Theatre & Lounge serves alcohol until 2:30AM! Feel free to show up early and stay late to have some drinks and get friendly with the amazing Moolah staff.

George A. Romero – “Between Night and Dawn” Coming on Blu-ray October 23rd from Arrow Video


There’s Always Vanilla, Season of the Witch, and The Crazies, made between  Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, showcase the extraordinary versatility  and dynamism of this irreplaceable American auteur… Three films from the late,  legendary horror director, George A. Romero, showing that although he might  have defined zombie cinema, it didn’t define him. George A. Romero – “Between Night and Dawn” will be released  on Blu-ray October 23rd from Arrow Video


THERE’S ALWAYS VANILLA (1971)

Young drifter Chris and beautiful model Lynn embark upon a tumultuous relationship which seems doomed from the outset.


SEASON OF THE WITCH (1972)
Joan Mitchell is a bored housewife whose dissatisfaction with her humdrum life leads to an unhealthy interest in the occult.


THE CRAZIES (1973)

A small rural town finds itself in the grip of an infection which sends its hosts into a violent, homicidal frenzy

 
When George A. Romero passed away in July, the film world didn’t just lose its beloved ‘King of Zombies’, but also a groundbreaking and fearless innovator who inspired not only generations of genre directors, but also experimental and guerilla filmmakers for whom he laid down the template.
 
The three films collected in this box set – two early Seventies ‘lost films’ and a classic plague panic thriller – show there’s more to the legendary director than simply gut-munching ghouls. The comedy romance There’s Always Vanilla, psychological thriller Season of the Witch, and infection horror The Crazies – all filmed in and around Pittsburgh – serve to display the broader thematic concerns and auteurist leanings of a skilled craftsman too often pigeonholed within the genre; that said, The Crazies is one of his strongest horror offerings, with memorable performances from Lynn Lowry and Richard Liberty.
Romero managed to inject his films with subtle social allegories, nuanced examinations of the human condition, and just the right amount of black humor, so that they were immediately recognized as his and his alone. The box set showcases the director feeling his way towards the mainstream and showing a formidable assurance in three very distinct genres.
 
This fantastic box set includes brand new restorations of the three films, a lavish 60-page booklet featuring new writing on this fascinating chapter of Romero’s career, a wealth of extras including interviews, featurettes and behind the scenes documentaries, reversible sleeves for all three films featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork, and a beautifully designed and striking slipcase featuring an iconic image of the man himself.
 
Limited Edition Contents:
– High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard DVD presentations
– English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
– Reversible sleeves for each film featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
– Limited Edition 60-page booklet featuring new writing on the films
 
THERE’S ALWAYS VANILLA
– Brand new 2K restoration from the original negative
– Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
– Brand new interviews with actors Judith Ridley and Richard Ricci, producer Russ Streiner and – sound recordist Gary Streiner
– Digging Up the Dead – The Lost Films of George A. Romero – archive interview with Romero looking at his early films There’s Always Vanilla and Season of the Witch Trailer
– Trailer
 
SEASON OF THE WITCH
– Brand new 4K restoration from original film elements
– Alternate extended cut
– Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
– When Romero met Del Toro – celebrated filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro sits down with George Romero for this candid career-spanning conversation
– The Secret Life of Jack’s Wife – archive interview with actress Jan White
– Alternate Opening Titles
– Trailers
 
THE CRAZIES
– Brand new 4K restoration from original film elements
– Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
– Romero Was Here – featurette revisiting The Crazies filming locations in Evans City, PA
– Never Before Seen BTS footage
– 2016 Q&A with Lynn Lowry from Abertoir Film Festival
– Alternate Opening Titles
– Trailers
Featuring:
Lynn Lowry (Shivers, Cat People)
Richard Liberty (The Mean Season, Day of the Dead)
Will MacMillan (The Enforcer, Used Cars)
Ann Muffly (Knightriders, Creepshow)
Raymond Laine (The Booby Hatch, Sudden Death)
Bill Hinzman (Night of the Living Dead, FleshEater)
 
Pre-order via MVD Shop or on Amazon

 

GBC Interview Segments: Breck Eisner (Director of THE CRAZIES)

In this edition of The Golden Briefcase Interview Segments, Jeremy had the pleasure of talking to the director of The Crazies, Breck Eisner. Let’s listen now as Jeremy speaks to Breck about the making of the picture, and what he has coming in future projects!

THE CRAZIES is in theaters now! Check it out!

Review: THE CRAZIES

Serving as no big surprise for avid fans of the horror genre, Breck Eisner’s new film THE CRAZIES is actually a remake of the 1973 horror film by legendary filmmaker George Romero. No, despite the obvious, THE CRAZIES is NOT a zombie flick. Why? Simply put, nobody returns from the dead… therefore, no zombies! Romero’s original was, with all due respect, one of a short list of films not about or containing zombies.

Breck Eisner last made SAHARA (2005) was… tolerable. However, his remake of THE CRAZIES appears to be the beginning of a new trend for him, as he’s already attached to future remakes of FLASH GORDON and David Cronenberg’s THE BROOD. I have to admit, after seeing THE CRAZIES, I’m not so sure this is such a bad thing.

Eisner has somehow managed to capture the perfect combination of fun and fright, that wonderful concoction of cinematic chemistry that made the genre films of the late 70’s and early 80’s such cult classics to this day. That’s not to say this film is perfect, but it does go a long way with fans of the genre and will likely please general audiences as well.

Right from the beginning, Eisner sets up the mood of THE CRAZIES with a shot of small town American in flaming ruins, followed by an immediate rewind back to the day it all started. Johnny Cash serenades us as we meet the small Iowa farm town of Ogden Marsh. Everything appears normal, until one of the townsfolk interrupts a high school baseball game, resulting in a tragic event that causes panic in the rural community.

Things rapidly grow out of control as more and more of these bizarre occurrences happen. Sheriff David Dutton, played by Timothy Olyphant (DEADWOOD, HITMAN), doesn’t waste much time putting the pieces together and works to put a stop to the spreading chaos, but finds he is too little too late as the town becomes quarantined by aggressive military personnel.

Coincidentally, the soldiers ordered to shoot with extreme prejudice are the least of Sheriff Dutton’s worries, as he struggles to protect his pregnant wife Judy (Radha Mitchell) from a town full of infected, psychotic killing machines. Olyphant is great. While he does tend to be cast in similarly typecast roles, he always brings a certain flair and intensity to his performances that make him exhilarating to watch. His touch for intensity adds to the decently suspenseful nature of THE CRAZIES.

Equally notable as a positive influence on THE CRAZY is Deputy Russell Clank, played by Joe Anderson (THE RUINS, AMELIA). At once the slightly Barney Fife[ish] sidekick and loyal partner, he also serves as a thrilling side story that gradually transforms into an obstacle for the main character.

Filled with moments of startling jumps and scares, THE CRAZIES melds the darker comedic element of a good horror flick with solid dialog appropriate for the story without feeling absurd or over-the-top. The special effects are respectfully kept within the bounds of realism, effective and creepy but not overdone.

Granted, THE CRAZIES lacks a few key elements of opportunity, such as original, creative storytelling or much character development at all. Despite the frequent conveniences and little predictabilities in the story’s progression, the movie still manages to satisfy on the more primal levels. It’s an admirably accomplished good time and a film worth the box office price tag.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

EP11: Does This Look Infected? (Guest: Andy Triefenbach from Destroy The Brain)

On tonight’s episode of The Golden Briefcase, Tim and Jeremy are joined by Andy Triefenbach from Destroy The Brain to discuss the new DVD/Bluray releases, the new trailers for KICK-ASS and DEFENDOR, enjoy Jeremy’s Guilty Pleasure pick of RAVENOUS and much more!

The main topic of the night was films about infection (in honor of this weekend’s THE CRAZIES). The guys discuss their favorites in the horror sub-genre and chat about the various kinds of infections present in their films of choice.

Couldn’t make the live show? No worries. We have it all available at your disposal through iTunes or RSS!

Live broadcasts are usually on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm PST/9:30pm EST.

Send show topics, commentary, hate mail, love letters or whatever your heart desires to goldenbriefcase@gmail.com! We would LOVE to hear from you!

This week, our show is sponsored by Audible.com, the leading provider of digital audiobooks and spoken word entertainment! Audible has over 60,000 titles in their library and one of those is for you forfree! All you have to do is head over to our link at http://audiblepodcast.com/goldenbriefcase to receive a free audiobook of your choice when you sign up for a 14-day trial of their service. And get this, you get to keep that book even if you decide not to continue your membership! So check it out, and thanks for supporting our show!


If your company would like to sponsor The Golden Briefcase, please send us an email with something along those lines in the subject line!

Who Wants to See THE CRAZIES With the Movie Geeks?

The good people of Ogden Marsh are going a little crazy, and you get to see it.  Luckily for some of you, you get to see the town go crazy a day before its February 26th release.  We have passes to hand out for the screening at Ronnie’s Plaza 20 on Thursday, February 25th at 8:00 PM.

First and foremost,  this is a St. Louis screening.  If you will not be in St. Louis on February 23th, please do not enter this contest.

All you have to do is email me a kirk@wearemoviegeeks.com with the answer to this two-part question.  Who directed the original THE CRAZIES and what year did it come out?  It’s as simply as that.  Hell, you could probably go check it out on IMDB in no time at all.  We will sift through the heaping mound of correct answers and select the winners at random.

And, if you aren’t one of the lucky winners, be sure to check out THE CRAZIES when it opens on February 26th.

Director Shuffle On Some Horror Remakes

brood creature

Oh, these pesky, horror remakes and the people who have to direct them.  For some time, Breck Eisner (SAHARA) was attached to direct the long-gestating CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON remake.  He then moved on, instead taking on the upcoming remake of Romero’s THE CRAZIES.  Now, according to the LA Times, Carl Rinsch, the man who is set to direct 47 RONIN, is taking on the CREATURE project.

Eisner, meanwhile, has just been tapped to direct the remake of David Cronenberg’s 1979 film, THE BROOD.  The film, with the new screenplay being written by PRIEST screenwriter Cory Goodman, centers on a woman who has a telepathic link to her murderous children.

What do you think of these choices?  Are these films worth remaking at all?  Are these the right choices for director on each?  What would have been your thoughts had Peter Jackson ever gotten his vision of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON off the ground?  Let us know by shooting us a comment in the section below.

THE CRAZIES Trailer Hits

crazies olyphant

The trailer for Overture’s remake of George Romero’s ‘The Crazies’ has been released.  You can check it out in all its HD glory over at Apple, or you can check out the embedded version right here.

Let’s get to that, shall we:

All in all, this looks to be a pretty nice, small-town, horror movie.  Romero’s original is a forgotten classic, probably the best work the director did outside of the “…of the Dead” series.  You have to wonder how smart the reactive use of Gary Jules’ take on “Mad World” is.  Seriously, Donnie Darko was eight years ago.  Surely, we can find a different, creepy and melodic song to use over images of horror.

But that really has nothing to do with the film itself.  Speaking of which, the film’s official website has gone live, as well.

‘The Crazies’ is set for release on February 26th, 2010.  Gary Jules’ “Mad World” will stop being used around 2352.

‘The Crazies’ Scares Up a Teaser Poster

the crazies poster

Not really sure how this one is going to play out.   The original, George Romero film, in my opinion, is a hidden gem.   Breck Eisner isn’t exactly the second coming of horror directors.   It’s hard to get the taste of ‘Sahara’ out of our mouths, but his entry into the “Fear Itself” anthology, “The Sacrifice,” was atmospheric and offered a few scares.   That’s saying alot for that show.   You also can’t really go on the Olyphant factor, who always gives decent performances but his hit-and-miss record for good movies is pretty much down the line.

This new poster courtesy of Shock Till You Drop doesn’t really do much service to the film.   It’s not your typical, Photoshop job of actors’ heads over a black background, so, for that, it gets points.   On the other hand, there really isn’t much in terms of the style of the film that can be garnered from it.

We’ll all find out on February 26th, 2010 when ‘The Crazies’ comes out.

‘The Crazies’ Remake Gets Pushed Back

crazies-poster1

Just a quick note.   The remake to George Romero’s ‘The Crazies’ was initially set for release on September 25th of this year.   However, Overture Films has announced that they are pushing the film’s release back five months all the way to February 26th, 2010.

This move puts ‘The Crazies’ out three weeks after Drew Goddard’s directorial debut, ‘The Cabin in the Woods.’Â   The month after, we have the release of ‘Pirahna 3D’ and in April, we have the remake of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street.’Â   First quarter 2010 is looking pretty horror-heavy, so I’m not sure how this move will effect ‘The Crazies.’

As it was, ‘The Crazies’ was coming out a week after ‘Jennifer’s Body,’ two weeks after ‘Whiteout,’ and three weeks after ‘Pandorum.’   September ’09 is looking pretty horror-heavy, as well, so the move was a good decision.   Nothing horror-related is set for December, so that may have been a better decision.

What do you think?   Is the move a good one for ‘The Crazies’?   When would be a good time of year for this film?   Are all of these horror films coming out a good thing for fans of the genre or a bad thing?   Let us know by commenting below!

Source: Overture Films