The Crazies...
The Crazies is a 2010 American horror/thriller film written by Scott Kosar and Ray Wright. The film is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name by George A. Romero, who has also been the executive producer and co-writer of the remake. The Film is set in the fictional town of Ogden Marsh, Pierce County, Iowa, and is quoted the ‘friendliest place on Earth’. The town’s water supply is infected with the ‘Trixie’ virus and after an incubation period of 48 hours, the virus gradually transforms the mental state of the infected into cold, calculating, bloodthirsty killers who then prey on family and neighbours. The film have received many positive reviews from critics.
In the opening, we see 4 clips of different areas of the town on fire, and this makes the audience question why and what’s happened. We then see a master shot showing the center of town, where we see a banner that’s reads Ogden Marsh and this then makes the location apparent to the audience. One of the clips appears as though it was filmed with a hand held camera, helping to draw in the audience and make them feel as though they are there. Diegetic sound has been used here, but changes instantly to the sound of guitars as the screen straight cuts to black and the caption two days earlier fades in then out. This allows the audience to understand that they are being taken back in time as the opening to this film is quite clear and easy to follow, whilst the music played is softer and more relaxed representing the time the audience is being taken back to. The black screen then cuts to visuals of the town where it appears peaceful and calm. One of the main characters is then gradually introduced through close up shots of his Sheriff badge and then a shot that comes into focus upon the characters had so the audience can see he is wearing a wedding ring. This gain makes the audience question who the character is and why we are being introduced to him in this way. We are also shown the master shot of a what appears to be a house at first but then a camera pan following the a women inside shows shelving full of patient files. She then walks into a room where a female doctor is sat at a desk, implying to the audience that this is a doctor’s surgery, and dialogue is exchanged between the two characters. This is the introduction to two more main characters, although at the time this isn’t obvious to the audience in the introduction. A camera pan is then used to show the Sheriff’s car driving into the car park at the baseball field. The camera continues to pan round to show the baseball field and acts as a master shot to show the location. During the game, the Sheriff we were first introduced to is seen talking to another Sheriff through the use of a two shot. This is again another introduction to one of the main characters. Then long shot is used to show a man walking onto the baseball field from the other side wielding a shot gun, and an over the shoulder shot is shown looking over the man’s shoulder across the field, and perhaps represents how he is looking for a victim. A low angle shot is then used to show a coffee cup bouncing of the floor. This has been edited so that it is slowed down and this helps to build tension and is an indicator that this is the start of the events that led up to the first shots we see of the burning town. He then runs out onto the field and over to the man who through the monologue from the Sherrif, the audience learns he is called Rory. Shot reverse shots are also used during the monologue to show the confusion on Rorys face and how the Sheriff suddenly becomes concerned about the situation. We then see Rory raise the gun, only to be shot by the Sheriff. We then see a mid-shot of the Sheriff and his reaction at what has just happened, and sees him rush over to Rorys side. Most of these scenes are dialogue driven but slow paced, sad music is played as the Sheriff rushes over to Rory, to highlight the situation. This is then contrasted with an aerial view which zooms out into a map and the area of Ogden Marsh is highlighted in a square with Ogden Marsh and the town’s population written next to it, accompanied by amplified sound as it cuts to a low angle shot of two planes flying in the sky. This then fades to black and the film title is displayed in bottom left hand corner. The end of the opening sequence is where the most tension is built and where the audience is left on the edge of their seats questioning what was wrong with Rory and how this could lead to the distruction of the town.
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