The Crazies is easily one of the best horror films to hit theaters in a really long time.  If this is the kind of movie you like to see, don't miss it in the theaters.

A mysterious toxin has contaminated the water supply of a small town in Iowa, causing the inhabitants to go insane.  Yes, it is a remake of the 1973 Romero film and no, this film does not re-invent anything or cover new ground.  But it executes the story with incredible skill, leaving the audience on the edge of their seat whether they saw the original or not.

The acting is pretty fantastic, especially for this genre, and the pace and style of the film work extremely well.  The characters, even the insane ones, are very real and believable.  One thing I found particularly fascinating is that each character's insanity was intricately linked to their characteristics before they became infected.  These aren't mindless zombies, they are crazy people with intent and it presents itself differently with different people.  This is a good reason why you might want to find out if any of your neighbors or friends have homicidal tendencies. 

 So How Does It End?

Well, here's where you have to suspend disbelief a little.  The main characters (Olyphant and Mitchell) are driving the cab of a semi away from town when what appears to be a nuclear blast is detonated behind them.  The blast even reaches them, violently tumbling the vehicle, but they walk away without any serious injuries.  Between this film and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I'm beginning to think nuclear blasts aren't such a big deal.

But before you get too excited and think the characters are free to begin a normal life, a presumed military satelite tracks them from space and initiates another decontamination protocol.  It would seem this scenario is about to play itself out again in another unsuspecting town.

A fun and frightening ride, I give it 4 out of 5 stars.