Rated: R

Release Date: 02/26/2010

Production Company: Overture Films

Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Danielle Panabaker and Joe Anderson.

Director: Breck Eisner. Producers: Michael Aguilar, Brian E. Frankish, Rob Cowan and Dean Georgaris. Executive Producer: George A. Romano. Screenwriters: Scott Kosar and Ray Wright. George A. Romano (1973 motion picture: "The Crazies"). Cinematographer: Maxime Alexander.

By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

When it comes to horror movies, the more gore the better. And if the movies have a solid storyline, well now we're really talking. Fortunately, for horror film fans, director Breck Eisner's ("Sahara" and the upcoming "Flash Gordon") "The Crazies" has all this and more.

"The Crazies" is a well done remake of George Romero's 1973 B-movie and is even more timely now with its political and social message of big, invasive government and collapsing social order.

The tight-knit town of Ogden Marsh, Iowa has a population of 1, 260 people. Within the blink of an eye that changes to 1, 259. That's because during a baseball game, one of the town folk, Rory Hamill (Mike Hickman) interrupts the festivities by walking onto the high school field toting a rifle and wearing a menacing and zombie like look on his face.

when Sheriff Dave (Timothy Olyphant) asks Rory just what he thinks he's doing, he gets no reply from him. After repeated requests to put down his gun, Rory just stands there leaving little choice for the sheriff to shoot him. Sheriff Dave thought Rory had been drinking, since he's known to do that regularly. But Rory hadn't gotten his drink on in years. So what could have possibly made him snap like this? Is it something in the water? Has someone or something invaded this sleepy, little farming community? Is it a government experiment gone bad? And why?

Those are huge questions that Rory, his town-doctor wife, Judy (Radha Mitchell) along with his deputy Russell (Joe Anderson ) and others are trying to find out before they become one of the knife wielding, gun toting, glassy-eyed crazies who are on a massive killing spree.

"The Crazies" could have easily gone the simple route of showing all the bloody impalements and made that the focus of the movie. While there is plenty of chilling, blood splattering moments throughout it, the riveting story elevates the film to a thought provoking and entertaining level.

The acting is good too. Olyphant is terrific as the cool, tough and in control sheriff even though he's on the receiving end of several beat downs from the zombies. Anderson brings humor to his edgy role and Mitchell is convincing as the smart doctor who fights to the bitter end.

I stayed on the edge of my seat and riveted to the screen all throughout "The Crazies." I have a feeling most horror aficionados are going to love this one too. It's crazy fun.